Page:The Adventures of David Simple (1904).djvu/215

 but necessity should have extorted from her what she always intended to conceal; and, if she might advise, he should see us again, separate us from each other, and make no noise in the world about such an affair as this. She well knew my father's temper, and that his seeing she thus returned good for evil would only raise his esteem the higher for her, and exasperate him the more against us. "My aunt was astonished at our wickedness, and in the highest admiration of Livia's virtue. From this visit she came directly home to us, with a resolution such wretches should find no harbour in her house, and talked to us in the manner already related. "Valentine and I were like statues on the hearing of all this, and it was some time before we could recollect ourselves enough to speak; this was thought to be owing to our guilt, and the shame of being detected, instead of amazement and indignation at hearing our innocence thus falsely accused. It was in vain for us to endeavour at clearing ourselves, for my aunt was a very good sort of a woman, as far as her understanding would give her leave; but she had the misfortune of having such a turned head, that she was always in the wrong, and there was never any possibility of convincing her of the contrary of anything she had once resolved to believe. She had run away warmly with the thoughts of the terrible sin of incest, and therefore we were to be condemned unheard, and be thought guilty without any proof." David could contain himself no longer; but looking at Camilla with an air of the greatest compassion, cried out, "Good God ! madam, what have you suffered! and how were you able to bear up in the midst of all these afflictions? I would rather go and live in some cave, where I may never see