Page:The Adventures of David Simple (1904).djvu/226

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194
The Adventures of David Simple

person, and overlooked the circumstance of her friend's going abroad with a lady of fashion, who had taken a fancy to her; but now they were both soon convinced that she was the very person whom Camilla had been so fond of.

David therefore related to her Cynthia's story; the distresses of which moved Camilla in such a manner, she could not refrain from weeping. David was melted into tenderness at the sight of her tears; and yet inwardly rejoiced at the thoughts of her being capable of shedding them on so just an occasion. He then said, he thought it would be proper to acquaint Valentine with the hopes she had of seeing her friend again. Camilla, with a sigh, replied, she never concealed anything from her brother which gave her pleasure. This sigh, he thought, arose from reflecting on Cynthia's misfortunes; but in reality something that more nearly concerned her was at the bottom of it. For she remembered enough of Valentine's behaviour to Cynthia before she went abroad, to be well assured he could not hear of any probability of seeing her again without great perturbation of mind: however, the next time they met, she by degrees opened to him what David had told her. But the paleness of his countenance, and the anxiety which appeared in his looks, while she was speaking, cannot be expressed. David, who, from his own goodness of heart, required the strongest proofs to convince him of any ill in another, from the same goodness easily perceived all the emotions which arise in the mind from tenderness; and consequently was not long in suspense at Valentine's extraordinary behaviour on this occasion.

Camilla had acted with great honour; for although she had told David, as her benefactor and friend, the whole history of her own life, she had said no more of her brother than what was necessary;