"I," cried he, "will teach it thee, for I will tell thee my own sad
story. Then wilt thou find how much happier is thy lot, then wilt thou
raise thy head in thankful triumph."

"O no! triumph comes not so lightly! yet if you will venture to trust
me with some account of yourself, I shall be glad to hear it, and much
obliged by the communication."

"I will," he answered, "whatever I may suffer: to awaken thee from this
dream of fancied sorrow, I will open all my wounds, and thou shalt
probe them with fresh shame."

"No, indeed," cried Cecilia with quickness, "I will not hear you, if
the relation will be so painful."

"Upon _me_ this humanity is lost," said he, "since punishment and
penitence alone give me comfort. I will tell thee, therefore, my
crimes, that thou mayst know thy own felicity, lest, ignorant it means
nothing but innocence, thou shouldst lose it, unconscious of its value.
Listen then to me, and learn what Misery is! Guilt is alone the basis
of lasting unhappiness;--Guilt is the basis of mine, and therefore I am
a wretch for ever!"

Cecilia would again have declined hearing him, but he refused to be
spared: and as her curiosity had long been excited to know something of
his history, and the motives of his extraordinary conduct, she was glad
to have it satisfied, and gave him the utmost attention.

"I will not speak to you of my family," said he; "historical accuracy