acknowledge all your wisdom, I am sensible of my own error, but the
affair is wholly dropt, and the unhappy connection I was forming is
broken off for-ever!"

Little now was Mr Monckton's effort in repressing his further
curiosity, and he started other subjects with readiness, gaiety and
address. He mentioned Mrs Charlton, for whom he had not the smallest
regard; he talked to her of Mrs Harrel, whose very existence was
indifferent to him; and he spoke of their common acquaintance in the
country, for not one of whom he would have grieved, if assured of
meeting no more. His powers of conversation were enlivened by his
hopes; and his exhilarated spirits made all subjects seem happy to him.
A weight was removed from his mind which had nearly borne down even his
remotest hopes; the object of his eager pursuit seemed still within his
reach, and the rival into whose power he had so lately almost beheld
her delivered, was totally renounced, and no longer to be dreaded. A
revolution such as this, raised expectations more sanguine than ever;
and in quitting the house, he exultingly considered himself released
from every obstacle to his views--till, just as he arrived home, he
recollected his wife!



CHAPTER viii.

A TALE.

A week passed, during which Cecilia, however sad, spent her time as
usual with the family, denying to herself all voluntary indulgence of
grief, and forbearing to seek consolation from solitude, or relief from