Page:The Adventures of David Simple (1904).djvu/345

 married about a month before I left Paris. I never saw a greater prospect of happiness in my life; for their love was reciprocal, and they highly esteemed each other." Cynthia had the thanks of the whole company for her relation; particularly Valentine's, who expressed the greatest admiration at her manner of telling it. They spent the rest of the evening in remarks on Cynthia's story; and David said he did not think there could have been such a character as Corinna's in the world; that he began to be in great anxiety to see a woman painted in such a light; but Sacharissa's tenderness and good-nature had revived his spirits, in showing him the blessing a man possessed when he could gain the affections of a person whose heart was faithful and whose mind was replete with goodness. In saying this, he fixed his eyes stead-fastly on Camilla, till he saw her blush and seem out of countenance, which made him immediately turn the discourse: and when they separated to go to bed, Valentine followed his sister into her room, and seemed almost choked for want of power to utter his thoughts. Camilla was not ignorant what subject he wanted to talk on, and immediately began a discourse on Cynthia. At last she brought him to say, "Oh! Camilla, how happy must that man be who can touch the heart of Cynthia! There is no hope for your unfortunate brother; for even if she could condescend to look on me, my circumstances are such, I dare not own my love to her. Mr. Simple's generosity and goodness to us makes it utterly impossible I should ever think of loading him with more burdens: no; I must for ever banish from my thoughts the only woman who is capable of raising my love and esteem. You may remember in our very youthful days, when I hardly knew why I liked her, how fond I was of being with Cynthia; and notwithstanding