The conversation between him and Camilla was of the delicatest, tenderest kind; and he told her with the greatest joy that she had delivered him from the utmost despair of ever meeting with any happiness in this world; for that, when he had the good fortune to meet with her, his condition was so unhappy that he began seriously to think of getting into some corner of the earth where he might never see the face of a human creature; for to be always in the midst of people who, by their behaviour, forced him to despise them, was to him the greatest of all curses. "To you, therefore, madam," said he, "I owe that delicate pleasure of having my taste approved by my judgment. You know I made an offer to Cynthia, for I never desired to conceal anything from you. I thought, indeed, that in her I had met with what I was in search of, a woman I could esteem. This made me admire her; but you alone truly touched my heart."
Camilla exulted as much in having gained so generous, so good a man as David, and had now no further thoughts of his love for Cynthia; but the mentioning her put her in mind of Valentine; and as she was not amongst that number of people who can be very happy themselves, though their friends be at the same time ever so miserable, she could not help sighing at the reflection how difficult it would be for Valentine to bring about a marriage with Cynthia.
David immediately guessed the cause of her suddenly growing melancholy; and told her he should not deserve the good opinion she had expressed of him if he could enjoy any one pleasure in life while her brother was unhappy; that the death of the poor creature whose story the clergyman had related added something to his income, and he thought he had enough to make her and her family easy in a private retired way of life; and, as
