"ofborne; and you know the cause of my diftrefs."

"I know nothing that can juftify, or "at least deserve, those tears.

Dearest

lady Monteith, for Heaven's fake, <c conquer that emotion, which increases "the misanthropy I long have felt at "the narrow prejudice and illiberality " of the world."

"You are always tilting against those "windmill giants," returned Geraldine "It is of the with a languid fmile.

fpirit of detraction and inconfiderate"nefs that I complain; of that cruel "levity, which sports with what is "dearer than life."

Nay, now you urge your fenfibility "too far. It is weakness, not delicacy, "to put our happiness fo much in the power of others. Have you forgot"ten that beautiful fentiment, The

t

II

"con

"confcious mind is its own awful "world?'

"I grant its propriety only with respect to the tortures of guilt; for can "innocence be infenfible of the value " of reputation ?"

"It may disprove flander by defpifing it, and by acting with marked contempt of its petty machinations. "The tale you feem to apprehend is "too poor, too contemptible for be"lief. I have but one fear respecting "its public exposure."

"What fear?"

"If lord Monteith fhould hear it." "If he fhould, what have I to "dread ?"

"The warmth of his character; "his irritable impetuofity; his fuf"picious"

Sufpicious, did you fy? How "muft I be degraded, Mr. Fitzofborne,

"in his opinion! To fufpect me after "four years experienced confidence! "And what muft the world think of me, if even my first, my dearest "friend doubts my rectitude ?"

"I know that angels are not purer; "and when Monteith recollects himself, his judgment will tell him the fame. "He is now a little warped; an unhappy ill-grounded apprehenfion-3 fmothered fpark nearly extinguished "by reafon, which this ridiculous ftory "may revive and fufpicion in a cha "racter like his must be terrible."

Geraldine leaned almoft fainting against the wainscot. A deadly palenefs was diffufed over her intelligent face, and her heart panted with apprehenfive terror. None, except a Domitian or a Fitzofborne, who delight in torture, but muft have pitied her agonies.

The

The traitor did indeed affect to pity. He dropped upon his knee, and uttered every rhapfodical expreffion which the moft guileful art could dictate. "Dearest

66

lady Monteith, for Heaven's fake be

compofed-my tortured heart bleeds "to fee your anguifh-most injured"moft lovely fufferer-Oh richly wor "thy of a better fate-Impart your "anguifh to the faithful friend who "would die to relieve it."

The laft words recalled her recollection. "Rife, fir," said the with becoming dignity. "My fituation does "not call for the active offices of friend

ship. You fay I am injured. In what? "From what motive do you torture me "with fufpenfe? You feem to poffels "fome fatal fecret refpecting me. IfI "ought to know the evil you allude to " tell me at once, that I may arm my "foul with fortitude to fuftain my trials,

"or detect the calumny which fports "with my peace."

Edward was difconcerted. He had hoped that fo much friendship might have furprized her into a little acknowledgment. And he perceived with regret that many a fummer's fun muft ftill rife to mature his villany. He had never yet encountered the refiftance of a firm fuperior mind, or fo ftrongly feen the loveliness of virtue in her own form," or "felt how awful good. nefs is." Yet, more remorfeless than the Prince of Darkness," he pined not at his own lofs."

The fophifts, who in thefe evil days. are falfely called enlightened, affect not to palliate their own vices by pleas of neceffity and frailty, whatever disguise they may affume to expedite their fuccefs with others. Afpiring to a preeminence in impiety, which former