unrestrained.

Send to me no answer, even if you have the sweetness to wish it; every
new proof of the generosity of your nature is to me but a new wound.
Forget us, therefore, wholly,--alas! you have only known us for sorrow!
forget us, dear and invaluable Cecilia! though, ever, as you have nobly
deserved, must you be fondly and gratefully remembered by AUGUSTA
DELVILE.

The attempted philosophy, and laboured resignation of Cecilia, this
letter destroyed: the struggle was over, the apathy was at an end, and
she burst into an agony of tears, which finding the vent they had long
sought, now flowed unchecked down her cheeks, sad monitors of the
weakness of reason opposed to the anguish of sorrow!

A letter at once so caressing, yet so absolute, forced its way to her
heart, in spite of the fortitude she had flattered herself was its
guard. In giving up Delvile she was satisfied of the propriety of
seeing him no more, and convinced that even to talk of him would be
folly and imprudence; but to be told that for the future they must
remain strangers to the existence of each other--there seemed in this a
hardship, a rigour, that was insupportable.

"Oh what," cried she, "is human nature! in its best state how
imperfect! that a woman such as this, so noble in character, so
elevated in sentiment, with heroism to sacrifice to her sense of duty
the happiness of a son, whom with joy she would die to serve, can
herself be thus governed by prejudice, thus enslaved, thus subdued by
opinion!" Yet never, even when miserable, unjust or irrational; her
grief was unmixed with anger, and her tears streamed not from