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DUTY AND INCLINATION.
51

it was his admiration of Rosilia's charms that now led him to pay homage at her shrine. He engaged her in a very interesting and animated discussion relative to the separate beauties of music and painting. Rosilia, with a modest deference, spoke in favour of the former; Sir Howard, in compliment to herself, dwelt upon the superior excellence of the latter, styling it the father of arts, one which so happily represented to us the charms, the graces, the varieties of nature, that it might be deemed a creation in itself. Thus was Sir Howard engaged in arranging his discourse in the manner he imagined best adapted to win upon and flatter his fair auditor, who, he found combined to an unaffected simplicity and ingenuousness, an intelligence truly captivating.

In the meanwhile, Douglas, who had followed him with keen penetration, in hearkening to all he had uttered was not at a loss to discover the end which influenced his remarks; and upon perceiving also the complaisance with which he had been listened and replied to, impressions of the most vehement jealousy took possession of him; mute with anguish, his brow contracted, his eye flashing wrath, forming a contrast most striking when compared to the well-modulated soft accent, the