Alfred de Rosann — page 162: what you’re looking at

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

ALFRED DE ROSANN. 153 wealthy young lady he met.. Now that his specula- tion with Miss Robson had failed, he was doubtless about to return to France to prosecute his suit in another quarter. But Mr. Clayton was determined he should not succeed ; and he only repented not having listened to the advice of his sister-in-law long ago. ‘hat Belle-Rose could have so grossly deceived him, he did not for-one moment suspect ; and he re- turned home in a humour so singularly composed of disappointment, indignation, shame, and grief, that he knew not whether to begin with a curse or a sigh. Eloise and her mother were in the drawing-room, when Mr. Clayton entered, and they both uttered an exclamation of alarm at the same moment; for his altered countenance wore so extraordinary.an expres- sion, that they were fearful some aceident had be- fallen him. «Tis all over !”? he cried, throwing his hat with violence on the table, and flinging himself into a chair. “ All confidence in mankind is forever at an end. Were my own father alive and here to tell me he would do so-and-so, I would not believe him.”’ “ Good God ! William,’’? cried Mrs. Clayton, “ has any thing happened ?’? ‘ De Rosann—”’’ i ‘ De Rosann—oh ! what of him ?”’ cried Eloise, her heart sinking within her, for she anticipated some dreadful tidings relative to her lover. ‘ De Rosann is a villain !”’ cried Mr. Clayton in a voice of thunder. “¢ Speak, uncle—speak ! what has he done? Oh hasten and relieve my anxiety—my suspense !’’— and the poor girl burst into an agony of tears, while her bosom throbbed convulsively, and a cold chill came over her like the icy touch of death. ‘‘De Rosann has abused my confidence—has de- ceived me—has deceived you, Eloise—has deceived the whole world,” exclaimed the enraged uncle. “ He has paid his addresses to a young lady in * London— he has proposed—and he has been rejected. And now Gomichboo SJ (E@)