Page:The Adventures of David Simple (1904).djvu/212

, unprovoked, to do another an injury, will stop at nothing to carry their schemes through; and, if they find no villainy in the person they thus undeservedly persecute, they will make no scruple of inventing anything, ever so bad, for their own justification. "The moment my aunt mentioned us, Livia fell into a violent passion of crying, and said she was sure she was the most unfortunate woman alive; she did not doubt but we had told her everything we could think of to vilify her; for we were cunning enough to know that mothers-in-law were easily believed by the word to be in fault, though she was sure she had always acted by us as if we had been her own children. She said her chief concern now was for us, for that she was in the utmost consternation to think what the world would say of us—a young man and women running away together from their father's house, without any reason (and she was sure she knew of none) had a very bad appearance; and, as all our acquaintance knew we had always a remarkable fondness for each other, that circumstance would corroborate the suspicion. Then she mentioned several little instances in which Valentine and I had shown our reciprocal love; adding, that although she had great reason to believe we both hated her, yet, as we were so nearly related to the man she loved, she could not help being concerned for our welfare, As she spoke this, she looked at her husband with such an air of softness and tenderness, as she knew would be the strongest proof imaginable to him of her sincerity. My father stood for some little time in amazement, and was struck with the utmost horror at the thought Livia had suggested to him; and then swore he would send for us home, and lock us up separately from each other. This would utterly have frustrated all Livia's designs; for she knew the temper of the man