Page:The Adventures of David Simple (1904).djvu/189

 hot love grows cold, it useth an enforced ceremony.' But in this she for some time lost her aim; for I knew so little of the world, I took it for a mark, that she was resolved, as she was got into a character of life so much hated (and, I am afraid, too often deservedly) as that of a mother-in-law, that the world should say she paid me rather more than less respect than before, I was not so well pleased with this behaviour as I should have been, had she continued her former manner; but, however, as I mistook the motive of her actions, I did not esteem her the less. "But this did not last long; she went on from one thing to another, till it was impossible, with all my partiality for her, to be deceived any longer; and I shall never be ashamed to own, it was with great difficulty my eyes were opened enough to see her in the true light: for I shall always esteem young people, who are apt to be suspicous, especially of their friends, to be incapable of possessing real goodness. They may, if they please, boast their judgement; but I cannot help imputing it more to the badness of their hearts, than to the goodness of their heads."

David, who never suspected anybody without the strongest proofs, very much applauded Camilla's judgement, and concurred with her in her sentiments. And she proceeded as follows—

"You will be amazed, sir, to find all the guile and cunning this woman made use of, to make me and Valentine hated by my father. I suppose it must be, because she thought her interest incompatible with ours; and that the only way to spend all her husband's fortune, was to make him believe we were his greatest enemies. She was quite different from the opinion I had formed of her; for instead of being contented with what my father could afford, she never though anything