9
virtuo to importunities of the deceitful Henry, and bid adieu to peace for ever--till she sank within ⟨the⟩ narrow confines of the grave. Ah! ye fair daughters of the earth! nature's choicest work! Did you rightly consider the pre-eminence of virtue, ⟨and⟩ your own conscious dignity, how few, if any, would depart from the path pointed out by rectitude, religion, and honour!
At the next interview that took place between Henry and our unfortunate maiden, after the fatal ⟨triumph⟩ of the former, her swollen eyes and altered ⟨countenance⟩ declared the poignancy of her feelings, ⟨and⟩ that remorse had already taken possession of ⟨her⟩ soul. Henry exerted all his eloquence to ⟨soothe⟩ her griefs; even his callous heart received ⟨a⟩ pang at her altered appearance. His arguments ⟨renewed⟩ her smiles; and he promised to repair to ⟨London⟩ in a few weeks, and seek for a situation in ⟨some⟩ commercial house, that should enable him to ⟨maintain⟩ his beloved Jane, in case his father ⟨should⟩ be offended at their marriage, the solemization of which was to take place at Henry's ⟨return⟩ to Rosewood. With such fallacious promises as these did he ensnare the youthful victim ⟨of⟩ credulity to further guilt, and lull the keenness ⟨of⟩ that sorrow he could not wholly dissipate.
Just at this period Lubin Arnold made rather ⟨sudden⟩ overtures to Mr. Percival for the hand of Rosetta; the declaration of his love being hastened ⟨by⟩ the knowledge that Squire Swinford had mado ⟨proposals⟩ highly advantageous to her. Mr. Percival resolved to decide the question by his daughter's choice; the prospects of accumulating riches ⟨could⟩ not dazzle for a moment his understanding. Rosetta did not hesitate to declare her affection for ⟨Lubin⟩, and an early day was appointed for their
