A BY THE AUTHOR OF A GOSSIP'S STORY. DEDICATED BY PERMISSION TO Mrs. CARTER. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. III. --Long the flourished, Grew sweet to fenfe, and lovely to the eye, Till at the last a cruel fpoiler came, Cropp'd this fair rose, and rifted all its sweetness. THE THIRD EDITION. OTWAY: LONDON. PRINTED BY A. STRAHAN, PRINTERS-STREET, FOR T. N. LONGMAN, AND O. REES, PATERNOSTER-ROW. TALE OF THE TIMES. CHAP. XXXII. Dang'rous conceits are in their natures poisons, SHAKSPEARE, THE appearance of lord Monteith, when the carriage ftopped at Powerfcourt, was fufficiently deplorable to excite commiferation even in those bofoms which felt the ftrongest abhorrence of his former conduct. Pale, and trembling with apprehenfion, he asked if his lady were fill alive. On receiving an VOL. III. B anfwer answer in the affirmative, he flew to her apartment, not reflecting upon the effect which his fudden return might have. Fitzofborne, poffeffed of a greater command of his own feelings, ftopped him at the door, and, dragging him into an adjoining room, whifpered to him, that prudence and compofure were highly neceffary. "If you fee lady "Monteith in your prefent perturba"tion of fpirits," faid he, " you will certainly become your own accufer, "and perhaps lay the foundation for "much future mifery. Remember, "poffibly fhe knows nothing of Mrs. c Harley's affair. For fhame, my "friend, how you unman yourself by "these emotions:" up "She lives," faid Monteith, lifting his eyes, which, to the extreme mortification of Fitzofborne, were fuffused with tears. "If he had died, mur"dered "dered by my infidelity, I would not "have furvived her." "Can you tell how her illness and your infidelity can poffibly be con"nected? If it proceeds form her ર knowledge of your weakness, you "have certainly caufe to dread feeing "her. I must entreat you, if you re gard your reputation as a man of the "world, or your authority as the master of a family, do not even let your valet "witness your diforder. He was prevented from proceeding by the appearance of fir William Powerfcourt, whofe benevolent heart had been deeply penetrated by a defcription of his fon-in-law's diftrefs, though his paternal pride had been previously stimulated to refent the abfence which even his unfufpicious temper had confidered to be a neglect of his beloved daughter. |
