Charlotte Smith

“ But when she saw the rich and luxurious country, which nature, "with all her great works about her," spreads before the astonished traveller, between Lyons and Civita Vechia, the port from whence Montalbert determined to embark for Sicily, in order to avoid both Rome and Naples, her mind was exalted by scenes so much superior to any she had ever formed an idea of either from the efforts of the pen or the pencil, she seemed transported to a world of higher rank in the universe than that she had inhabited while she was in England ”

“ Her natural understanding was excellent, and she had more judgement than generally attends on so much genius as she possessed; but hitherto this judgement had been unexercised, and this genius dormant. ”

“ In France, superior or even common beauty is generally much noticed, and almost at every post town Montalbert heard some observation on the loveliness of la jeune Anglias; or, if they remained in any city more than a day, had an attempt made by some gay young man or other to be introduced to his notice. ”

“ This extraordinary discovery was a frequent topic of conversation between her and Montalbert as they pursued on their journey; and they often canvassed the circumstancs that would, if the narrative of Mrs. Vyvian had been less authenticated, have given rise to incredulity.—Montalbert, when he first heard it from Rosalie, had remarked these circumstances—"It is strange (said he) that the account you have of your father's present situation is so vague, so indistinct, that you have no clue to guide you even to the certainty of his existnece, none by which you can identify yourself to him. ”

“ Long years of sorrow have so broken her spirits, that the most gloomy ideas sometimes take possession of her mind; she trembles, lest incidents in her life, for which surely she has already been punished sufficiently, should still draw the anger of Heaven on her children, as well as hazard her future happiness. ”

“ Arrived at Civita Vechia, after an abscence of ten weeks, from England, Montalbert felt some degree of uneasiness when he knew he must hear from his friend, the Count d'Alozzi, what had passed during his absence. From this he was relieved by finding a servant of the Count's waiting for him with a small vessel hired to convey him and Rosalie to Messina, where the Count waited his arrival, that, after Rosalie was fixed at the habitation he had prepared for her, they might return together to Naples. ”