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.

254

ORMOND; OR,

When Ormond began to speak, Constantia paused to
hearken to him. His vehemence was not of that nature
which threatened to obstruct her passage. It was by
entreaty that he apparently endeavoured to detain her
steps, and not by violence. Hence arose her patience
to listen. He continued:
" Constantia! thy father is dead. Art thou not desirous of detecting the author of his fate? Will it afford
thee no consolation to know that the deed is punished?
Wilt thou suffer me to drag the murderer to thy feet?
Thy justice will be gratified by this sacrifice. Somewhat
will be due to him who avenged thy wrong in the blood
of the perpetrator. What sayest thou? Grant me thy
permission, and in a moment I will drag him hither."
These words called up the image of the person whose
corpse she had lately seen. It was readily conceived that
to him Ormond alluded; but this was the assassin of her
father, and his crime had been detected and punished
by Ormond! These images had no other effect than to
urge her departure: she again applied her hand to the
lock, and said,"This scene must not be prolonged. My father's
death I desire not to hear explained or to see revenged,
but whatever information you are willing or able to communicate must be deferred."
"Nay," interrupted Ormond, with augmented vehemence, "art thou equally devoid of curiosity and justice?
Thinkest thou that the enmity which bereft thy father
of life will not seek thy own? There are evils which I
cannot prevent thee from enduring, but there are, likewise, ills which my counsel will enable thee and thy
friend to shun. Save me from witnessing thy death.
Thy father's destiny is sealed; all that remained was
to punish his assassin; but thou and thy Sophia still
live. Why should ye perish by a like stroke?"
This intimation was sufficient to arrest the steps of
Constantia. She withdrew her hand from the door, and
fixed eyes of the deepest anxiety on Ormond:-" What
mean you? How am I to understand -"
"Ah!" said Ormond, "I see thou wilt consent to
stay. Thy detention shall not be long. Remain where