, tho' he concealed both
under the appearance of cringing and servile complaisance. And when Lady
Frances compared the narrow-spirited and mean-looking Crofts, with the
handsome, animated, gallant Bellozane, the poor husband felt all the
disadvantages of the comparison, and as certainly suffered for it.
Scorning to dissimulate with a man whom she thought infinitely too
fortunate in being allied to her on any terms, and superior to the
censures of a world, the greater part of whom she considered as beings
of another species from the daughter of the Marquis of Montreville, her
Ladyship grew every day fonder of the Chevalier, and less solicitous to
conceal her partiality. She found, too, her vanity and inordinate self
love gratified, in believing that this elegant foreigner did justice to
her superior attractions, and had been won by them, from that
inclination for Emmeline which had brought him to England. A conquest
snatched from _her_, whom she had always considered at once with envy
and contempt, was doubly delightful; and Bellozane, with all the
volatility of his adopted country, saw nothing disloyal or improper in
returning the kind attentions of Lady Frances, _en attendant_ the
arrival of Emmeline; with whom he was a good deal piqued for her having
left London so abruptly without informing him whither she was gone. He
still preferred her to every other person; but he was not therefore
insensible to the kindness, or blind to the charms of Lady Frances; who
was really very handsome; and who, with a great portion of the beauty
inherited by the Mowbray family, possessed the Juno-like air as well as
the high spirit of her mother. In aid of these natural advantages, every
refinement of art was exhausted; and by those who preferred it's
dazzling effects to the interesting and graceful simplicity of unadorned
beauty, Lady Frances, dressed for the opera, might have been esteemed
more charming, than Emmeline in her modest muslin night gown; or than
the pensive Madona, which, in her widow's dress, was represented by Lady
Adelina.

These two friends, after having passed a calm afternoon together,
retired early to their respective apartments. Emmeline, who had a
repeating watch, given her by Lord Westhaven, wound it up carefully; and
having bolted her chamber door, lay down for a few hours; being sure
that the anxiety she felt would awaken her before the return of that on
which the stranger had appeared the preceding night. Fatigue and long
watching closed her eyes; but her slumber was imperfect; and suddenly
awaking at some fancied noise, she pressed her repeater, and found