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DUTY AND INCLINATION.
293

best and most effectual way that I can advise to avoid the chance of meeting him, will be to walk out as little as possible—insolent and daring as he has proved himself."

In the perfect purity of Rosilia's thought, it had not entered her imagination to conceive that Mr. Harcourt had sought to offer her insult; that his conduct had been most indiscreet, and thence reprehensible, she had strongly felt. Her father she conceived, as possessing the nicest feelings, and at the same time impetuosity of character, instead of the raillery with which he had treated the subject, would most undoubtedly, had insult been intended her, have instantly felt it, and severely chastised the offender. Making all due allowance for Mrs. Herbert's different way of thinking, and perfectly under the fatal persuasion that such counsel was dictated by affection only, and real interest for her welfare, and having very far from her thoughts even a wish to be in the presence of Harcourt again, the privation of an occasional walk was easy to be complied with.

In pursuing the conversation, Mrs. Herbert added, "How nobly, my dear child, you acted with regard to that giddy, gay young man, Captain Douglas! but with all his levity he really loved