Page:The Adventures of David Simple (1904).djvu/287

 would sacrifice my life at any time for his service; but if he was come to intercede with me to spend my whole time with a man whom I must always despise, I could not consent to it. He replied, that this accident had thrown him into a dilemma, in which he knew not how to act: that he was going to say, when I interrupted him, that Vieuville had destroyed all the fancied scenes of pleasure he once imagined he should enjoy in the love and unity of his little family, for he saw the aversion I had to this lover; and yet his Dorimene (whose every tear pierced his soul) seemed so resolute to abandon herself to despair if her brother was made unhappy, that either way it was impossible for him to avoid being miserable. "I fancied, by the emphasis he laid on some of his words, that he knew the whole truth, and was therefore resolved to take this opportunity of disclosing my mind to him; and yet a kind of shame withheld my tongue, and it was with difficulty, and in broken accents, I at last pronounced the word Dumont. He stopped me short, and told me there was no occasion for saying any more, for that from the very first he with pleasure saw our growing love; that he had always wished to see me married to the only man he really esteemed; that, indeed, just before the arrival of Vieuville, his wife's illness had employed most of his thoughts; besides, he artfully intended to let his friend's passion come to the height, that he might increase his happiness by gratifying him when he least expected it. 'You know, Isabelle,' continued he, 'your fortune of itself is enough to make the man you love happy; but I always intended a considerable addition to it; and as Dumont is your choice, should be desirous that we might all continue one family. This misfortune of Vieuville's being your lover has disconcerted all my schemes.' I was quite overwhelmed with my brother's goodness, and almost ready to sacrifice myself to his wife's humour,