Alfred de Rosann — page 165: what you’re looking at

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

156 ALFRED DE ROSANN. that he would not listen to reason. It was, therefore, in vain that Eloise fell upon her knees to endeavour to dissuade him from his purposed departure. Un- fortunately her mother perfectly acquiesced in the design of her brother-in-law, and only supported his opinions with increasing warmth, The wretched girl retired to her chamber and wept bitterly. Not for one instant did she entertain the slightest sus- picion of her lover’s treachery. She judged his mind and character by her own; she reflected that when he supposed himself to be wealthy and prosperous in his affairs, he demonstrated towards her every proof of a sincere affection which could not have been interested; and she resolved to combat the accusations of her mother and uncle with all the force of argument the emergency of the case might bring to her aid. In the midst of her sorrowful ruminations, an idea suddenly struck her that animated her countenance with a smile; and she sate down to her desk and wrote a short note, which she carefully sealed and placed in her bosom. When this was done, she felt more tran- quil, and suffered new hopes to enliven her spirits; for she remembered that De Rosann could write his justification—that her uncle dared not compromise his character as a just man by refusing to read it— and that they might still be happy. On the following morning, as Eloise ascended the steps of the carriage that was to bear her back to Paris, she slipped the note into the hands of the porter of the house, and laid her finger upon her rosy lip. The motion was understood and acknowledged by an equally significant nod, to the inexpressible delight of our fair heroine. | ea ~ - COICO KSaOLia