The novels of Charles Brockden Brown, consisting of Wieland;or, The transformation. Arthur Mervyn; or, Memoirs of the year 1793. Edgar Huntly; or, Memoirs of a sleep-walker. Jane Talbot. Ormond; or, The secret witness. Clara Howard; or, The enthusiasm of love. With a memoir of the author.

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ORMOND; OR,

In no case, perhaps, is the decision of a human being
impartial, or totally uninfluenced by sinister and selfish
motives. If Constantia surpassed others, it was not because her motives were pure, but because they possessed
more of purity than those of others. Sinister considerations flow in upon us through imperceptible channels,
and modify our thoughts in numberless ways, without our
being truly conscious of their presence. Constantia was
young, and her heart was open at a thousand pores to
the love of excellence. The image of Ormond occupied
the chief place in her fancy, and was endowed with
attractive and venerable qualities. A bias was hence
created that swayed her thoughts, though she knew not
that they were swayed. To this might justly be imputed
some part of that reluctance which she now felt to give
Ormond to Helena. But this was not sufficient to turn
the scale. That which had previously mounted was indeed heavier than before, but this addition did not enable
it to outweigh its opposite. Marriage was still the best,
upon the whole; but her heart was tortured to think that,
best as it was, it abounded with so many evils.
On the eveninfg of the next day, Ormond entered, with
careless abruptness, Constantia's sitting-apartment. IIe
was introduced to her father. A general and unrestrained
conversation immediately took place. Ormond addressed
Mr. Dudley with the familiarity of an old acquaintance.
In three minutes all embarrassment was discarded. The
lady and her visitant were accurate observers of each
other. In the remarks of the latter (and his vein was
an abundant one) there was a freedom and originality
altogether new to his hearers. In his easiest and sprightliest sallies were tokens of a mind habituated to profound
and extensive views. His associations were formed on a
comprehensive scale.
He pretended to nothing, and studied the concealments
of ambiguity more in reality than in appearance. Constantia, however, discovered a sufficient resemblance between their theories of virtue and duty. The difference
between them lay in the inferences arbitrarily deduced,
and in which two persons may vary without end and yet
never be repugnant. Constantia delighted her companion