In some moods, he formed wild projects of waylaying her, and carrying her off by force.

But the Yankee preaching, much as he despised it, was not without its influence.

He felt that it would be most politic to keep on good terms with his rich wife, who was, besides, rather agreeable to him.

He concluded, on the whole, that he would assume superiority to the popular enthusiasm about the new _prima donna_; that he would coolly criticise her singing and her acting, while he admitted that she had many good points.

It was a hard task he undertook; for on the stage Rosabella attracted him with irresistible power, to which was added the magnetism of the admiring audience.