Alfred; or, The Adventures of a French Gentleman — page 209: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

178 ALFRED: OR ADVENTURES rapidly suffnsed in blushes, when she noticed her mother and sister regarding her with peculiar attention. ‘¢ Qne would think you were in love with M. De Rosann, Selina,” exclaimed Mary; ‘‘ you are so energetic in ‘your expressions of gratitude to the Almighty for having spared him, and your coun- tenance changed so often, an observer could not have helped noticing your emotions.” ‘¢ Sister,” said Selina, calmly, “‘ your remarks are unkind and ungenerous to a degree. I know M. De Rosann much better than you do, because my frequent visits to France with my father have enabled me to acquire a knowledge of his language: and a heart that is not made of iron cannot fail to feel rejoiced at the escape of one who saved us all from ruin, by exposing the treachery of a pre- tended friend.” ‘¢ You speak like my own daughter, Selina!” cried Mr. Robson; ‘¢ and Mary was wrong to reproach you.” : ‘‘ Nay—my intention was not wilfully to wound your feelings, dear sister; I spoke with levity, it is true—but more in pleasantry than in earnest.” ‘¢ Let us drop the subject, Mary,” said Selina, wiping away a tear from her eye, while her mother began to think that the report she had heard at the ball was not entirely void of foundation, and that her younger daughter and De Rosann were really attached to each other. She however determined to hold her peace for the prent and watch their glances and their manners more particu arly, ere she suffered her mind to form any decided opinion rela- tive to the matter. I CHAPTER XXV. THE PROSPECTUS. THe mind of Eloise experienced considerable relief when the receipt of De Rosann’s letters communicated the certainty of iis obtaining a full pardon at the hands of Charles the Tenth. Nor less did her uncle feel] the purest satisfaction, as he reflected that a weighty obstacle to the match would thus indubitably be removed from the mind of his sister-in-law. The contents of Leblond’s epistle pleaded as an ample apology for our hero’s stay in London, both with Eloise and Mr. Clayton; and although the former sighed when she recollected how slowly slip away the weary hours when separated from those we love, she could not avoid inwardly ap- plauding Alfred’s courage, in thus determining to support an absence, which his honour rendered necessary, and which would be productive of such favourable results. She looked forward to the happy hours they might yet anticipate to pass in each other’s society ; and often—oh! often did she press De Rosann’s letter to her lips, and to her bosom, when she retired to her bed-chamber to peruse it. Mr. Clayton was delighted at the brightening pro- spect which now animated the future; and he ceased to torment CONNIE HOOKS (E(0)