happy family. Sempronius as much as possible shunned the sight of
Chloe; for as she was the cause of all the confusion amongst them,
he had almost an aversion to her. Though he was not of an
implacable temper, yet, as the injury was intended to one he
sincerely loved, he found it much harder to forgive it, than if it
had even succeeded against himself; and as he still looked upon
Chloe as the cause of melancholy in his dear Caelia, he could
hardly have any patience with her.

No words can describe the various passions which were expressed in
the sad countenance of Chloe, when first she met her friend. They
were both afraid of speaking. Shame, and the fear of being (and
with too good reason) suspected of insincerity, withheld Chloe;
and an unwillingness to accuse or hurt her friend withheld the
gentle Caelia. She sometimes indeed thought she saw repentance in
Chloe's face, and wished for nothing more than to seal her pardon.
But till it was asked, she was in doubt (from what had passed)
whether such pardon and proffered reconciliation might not be
rejected. She knew that her friend's passions were naturally
stronger than hers; and she therefore trembled at the consequences
of coming to an explanation.

But there was hardly a greater sufferer in this scene of confusion
than the poor old Lady Amanda. She saw a sort of horror and
wildness in the face of Chloe; and in Caelia's a settled
melancholy, and such an unusual reserve in both towards each
other, as well as to herself, as quite astonished her.

Sempronius came indeed to the house as often as usual; but in his
countenance she could perceive a sort of anger and concern which