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"No, no; thank heaven, to that ain resumed its severity, and, in the sternest manner, "Whence then," he said, "these tears? and what is this caprice you dignify with the nae wantonness of indolence and luxury! perverse repining of ungrateful plenitude!--oh hadst thou knohat I have suffered!"-"Could I lessen what you have suffered," said Cecilia, "I should sincerely rejoice; but heavy indeed must be your affliction, if mine in its comparison deserves to be styled caprice!"

"Caprice!" repeated he, "'tis joy! 'tis extacy compared with mine!-- Thou hast not in licentiousness wasted thy inheritance! thou hast not by rerave seized the beloved of thy soul!"

"Neither," said Cecilia, "I hope, are the evils you have yourself sustained so irremediable?"

"Yes, I have borne them all!--have borne? I bear them still; I shall bear theer"

"Good God!" cried Cecilia, shrinking, "what a world is this! how full of woe and wickedness!" "Yet thou, too, canst co, Innocence! thou, too, canst er to death's only terror, Sin! Oh yet if thy sorrow is unpolluted with guilt, be regardless of all else, and rejoice in thy destiny!" "But who," cried she, deeply sighing, "shall teach me such a lesson of joy, when all within rises to oppose it?"

"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 triuhtly! yet if you will venture to trust lad to hear it, and ed by the communication"

"I will," he answered, "whatever I may suffer: to awaken thee from this dream of fancied sorroill 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 punishive me comfort I will tell thee, therefore, norant itbut 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!"