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DUTY AND INCLINATION.
299

peating the prophetic warning. She again sought repose, but in vain; desiring the approach of morning, she availed herself of its earliest dawn to rise.

She recollected that her sister was to accompany her aunt to town, and had promised to come as soon as she arrived to see them. The absence of a few weeks had appeared long, and each sister rejoiced at being afforded an opportunity of meeting.

It was upon a day that some indispensable church duties had called Philimore into the city to the parish in which he officiated, and Oriana had promised by letter to give him the interview at the house of their mutual friend. Miss Morris, where, attended by Rosilia, she repaired; after which but a short interval ensued, when the rain began to fall in torrents, accompanied by vivid flashes of lightning and peels of thunder, and continued with very little intermission.

"Will Philimore come?" exclaimed Oriana: "surely he will not brave such tempestuous weather as this to see me? Were I however in his place no power on earth would detain me."

Such was the rambling of her thoughts, refusing comfort either from her friend or her sister, fearing every moment to be summoned by the arrival