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.

THE SECRET WITNESS.

55

she had hitherto led, and which, should her existence be
prolonged, it was likely that she could continue to lead.
These gloomy meditations were derived from the languors of her frame. When these disappeared, her cheerfulness and fortitude revived. She regarded with astonishment and delight the continuance of her father's
health and her own restoration. That trial seemed to
have been safely undergone to which the life of every
one was subject. The air, which till now had been arid
and sultry, was changed into cool and moist. The pestilence had reached its utmost height, and now symptoms
of remission and decline began to appear. Its declension was more rapid than its progress, and every day
added vigour to hope.
When her strength was somewhat retrieved, Constantia
called to mind a good woman who lived in her former
neighbourhood, and from whom she had received many
proofs of artless affection. This woman's name was
Sarah Baxter. She lived within a small distance of
Constantia's former dwelling. The trade of her husband was that of porter, and she pursued, in addition to
the care of a numerous family, the business of a laundress. The superior knowledge and address of Constantia had enabled her to be serviceable to this woman
in certain painful and perplexing circumstances.
This service was repaid with the utmost gratitude.
Sarah regarded her benefactress with a species of devotion. She could not endure to behold one whom every
accent and gesture proved to have once enjoyed affluence and dignity, performing any servile office. In spite
of her own multiplied engagements, she compelled Constantia to accept her assistance on many occasions, and
could scarcely be prevailed upon to receive any compensation for her labour. Washing clothes was her trade, and
from this task she insisted on relieving her lovely patroness.
Constantia's change of dwelling produced much regret
in the kind Sarah. She did not allow it to make any
change in their previous arrangements, but punctually
visited the Dudleys once a week, and carried home with
her whatever stood in need of ablution. When the prevalence of disease prevented Constantia from paying.her