of his own understanding.

With such ideas, his relations saw him perpetually pursuing some
matrimonial project; but so easily frightened from his pursuit, that
they relied on his succession with the most perfect confidence.

When first he beheld Emmeline, he was charmed with her person; her
conversation, at once innocent and lively, impressed him with the most
favourable ideas of her heart and understanding; and, brought up at a
great distance from London, she had acquired no taste for expences, no
rage for those amusements and dissipations which he so much apprehended
in a wife.

When he came to Mrs. Ashwood's, (which was almost every afternoon)
Emmeline, who was generally at work, or drawing in the dressing-room,
never discomposed herself; but sat quietly to what she was doing;
listening with the most patient complaisance to the long and
uninteresting stories with which he endeavoured to entertain her; an
attention which greatly contributed to win the heart of Rochely; and he
was as much in love as so prudent a man could be, before he ventured to
ask himself what he intended? or what was the family and what the
fortune of the person who now occupied most of his time and a great
portion of his thoughts?

Mrs. Ashwood, frequently engaged at the neighbouring card-tables, from
which Emmeline almost always excused herself, often left her and Mr.
Rochely to drink tea together; and when she was at home, would sometimes
make her party in another room, where the subject of laughter with her
own admirers, was the growing passion of the rich banker for the fair
stranger.

Emmeline did not, when present, escape ridicule on this subject: but as
she had not the least idea that a man so much older than herself had any
intention of offering himself as an husband, she bore it with great
tranquillity, and continued to behave to Mr. Rochely with the attentive
civility dictated by natural good breeding; while she heard, without any
concern but on his account, the perpetual mirth and loud bursts of
laughter which followed his compliments and attentions to her.

If he was absent a few days, the door of Mrs. Ashwood was crouded with
servants and porters with game from Mr. Rochely. And his assiduities
became at every visit more marked.

As it was now late in the autumn, Mrs. Ashwood was desirous of shewing
Miss Mowbray some of those public places she had not yet seen; and
Emmeline (not apprehending there was any reason to fear meeting Mr.
Delamere at a season when she knew field sports kept him altogether in
the country)