Page:The Adventures of David Simple (1904).djvu/317

 anything worth her regard, after what she had lost, that they did not attempt to dissuade her from it; and as soon as she had settled her aunt's affairs as she thought necessary, she took her leave of them, and returned to France.

This tragical story left very melancholy impressions on all their minds, and was continually the subject of their conversation during two or three days after Isabelle's departure. At which time the weather being fine, and their minds in a humour to enjoy the being on the water, they proposed spending a day there for their amusement. But these adventures must be reserved for another chapter.

next line day was embraced by David and his companions to execute their purpose of going upon the river; and the water, "ever friend to thought," with the dashing of the oars, and the quick change of prospect from where the houses, at a little distance, seem, by their number and thickness, to be built on each other, to the fields and rural scenes, naturally threw them into a humour to reflect on their past lives; and they fell into a conversation on human miseries, most of which arise from the envy and malignity of mankind; from whence arose a debate amongst them, which had suffered the most. The two gentlemen agreed that Cynthia and Camilla's sufferings had exceeded theirs; but David said he thought Camilla's were infinitely beyond anything