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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CLARA HOWARD; OR,

have resolved to conquer my perverse affections, or
perish."
" You have read her letters,-her last letter,-and you
talk of her love! Once, I grant, it might have been,-it
was so: but that time of affability, of softness, of yielding,
is gone; she is now rugged, austere, unfeeling. Her
preposterous abstractions and refinements have gained
force through the coldness of her heart. There is no
self-sacrifice, for she loves me not; there is no regard for
my welfare or felicity, for she loves me not."
"Oh, Philip, can you be so perverse, so unjust? You
merit not the love of so pure a spirit; you merit not the
happiness which such a one is qualified to give you. But
your disappointment has disturbed your reason. I can
pity and forgive you, and will intercede with her for your
forgiveness. I see her merits and her superior claims
too clearly ever to consent to your separation. You are
discomposed," I continued: "surely you have been very
sick. You seem to have just risen from the grave, you
are so pale, so wan, so feeble. Your state of health has
made you unfit to judge truly of the motives of your
friend, and to adopt her magnanimity. If you will have
patience, I can convince you that it is my duty to reject
your offers, and that Clara Howard may still, if you
please, be yours."
"Then," replied he, "you do reject them?"
"Do not look so wildly. I am sure you are not well.
You seem ready to sink upon the floor; you are cold,very cold. Let us defer this conversation a little while.
I have much to say on the subject of my history since
we parted. That being known to you, you will see reason
to judge differently of my motives for rejecting your
offers; instead of making that rejection more difficult by
importunity and vehemence, you will see the justice of
concurring with me, and of strengthening my resolution."
"Impossible," said he, "that any thing has happened
to change my views. Are not your affections, merits,
and integrity, the same as formerly? Answer me sincerely."
"1 will: I have no reason for concealment. Time has
pot lessened my merits, it is true; but- "