Page:The Adventures of David Simple (1904).djvu/260

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The Adventures of David Simple

selves pleasure. But I will not attempt to repeat all I endured on that occasion, and shall only tell you that Monsieur Le Buisson, on the death of his wife, thinking now all obstacles were removed between us, would again have been my lover; but his usage of my poor Juliè had raised in me such an indignation against him, that I resolved never to see him more.

"But here, at the period of my first misfortune, I must cease; for I think nothing but the strong desire I have to oblige this company could possibly have supported my sunk and weak spirits to have talked so long at one time."

The whole company begged her not to tire herself, and expressed their hearty thanks for what she had already done. She insisted now on retiring to her own apartment; and promised the next day, if her health would give her leave, to continue her story, in order to satisfy their curiosity; or rather to convince them that their compassion in her case must be rendered perfectly fruitless by the invincible obstinacy of her misfortunes.

After Isabelle had left them they spent the remainder of the day in remarks on that part of her story she had already imparted to them. David could not help expressing the utmost indignation against Monsieur Le Buisson for his barbarous and ungrateful treatment of Juliè, He desired Cynthia to engage Isabelle as early as it was possible the next morning, that she might re-assume her story; which, he said, must have something very extraordinary in it, as the death of her first friend, and that in so shocking a manner, seemed to be but the prologue to her increasing miseries. Had not Cynthia's own inclinations exactly agreed with his, she would have been easily prevailed on to have obliged the man who had generously saved Valentine's life, and was the only cause of her present