vanity might have suggested, she
never meant to give him; yet she had the mortification to find that all
her rejections, however repeated, were considered by the Chevalier as
words of course. It was in vain she assured him that besides her
disinclination to change her situation by marriage at all, she had other
forcible objections; that she should never think of passing her life
out of England; that not only their country, but their manners, their
ideas on a thousand subjects, so materially differed, as to make every
other reason of her refusal unnecessary.

When she seriously urged thus much, he usually answered that he would
then reside in England; that he would accommodate his manner of living
to her pleasure; and that as to the ideas which had displeased her, he
would never again offend her with their repetition.

Emmeline had indeed been extremely hurt and disgusted at that levity of
principle on the most serious subjects which the Chevalier avowed
without reserve, and for which he appeared to value himself. Tho'
brought up a Calvinist, he had as he owned always conformed to the mode
of worship and ceremonies of the Catholics while he was among them; and
usually added, that had he served amid the Turks or the Jews, he should
have done the same, as a matter of great indifference.

The Baron, whose life had been more active than contemplative, was
unaccustomed to consider these matters deeply. And as every thing
Bellozane advanced had with him great authority, he was struck with his
lively arguments; and whatever might be their solidity, could not help
admiring the wit of the Chevalier, whom he sometimes encouraged to
dispute with Lord Westhaven. The religion of Lord Westhaven was as
steady and unaffected as his morals were excellent; and he entered
willingly into these dialogues with Bellozane, in hopes of convincing
him that infidelity was by no means necessary to the character of a
soldier; and that _he_ was unlikely to serve well the country to which
he belonged, or for which he fought, who began by insulting his God.

He found however that the young man had imbibed these lessons so early,
and fancied them so much the marks of a superior and penetrating mind,
that he could make no impression by rational argument. Bellozane usually
answered by a sprightly quotation from some French author, and his
Lordship soon declined the conversation, believing that if sickness and
sorrow did not supercede so slow a cure, time at least would convince
him of his folly.

But such was the effect of this sort of discourse on Emmeline, that had
Bellozane been in other respects unexceptionable, and had her heart