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.

JANE TALBOT. ] 27
sister, notwithstanding my defects and disadvantages,
offers me her love, vows to be mine. I accept her love;
she is mine; nor need we to discuss the matter any further. "
This, however, by no means put an end to altercation.
I told him I was willing to hear all that he had to say
upon the subject. If truth were on his side, it was possible he might reason me into a concurrence with him. In
compliance with this concession, he dwelt on the benefits
which his sister would receive from accompanying him to
France, and the mutual sorrow, debasement, and perplexity likely to flow from a union between us, unsanctioned
by the approbation of our common friends.
"The purpose of all this is to prove," said I, "that
affluence and dignity without me will be more conducive
to your sister's happiness than obscurity and indigence
with me."
It was.'" Happiness is mere matter of opinion; perhaps Jane
thinks already as you do."
He allowed that he had talked with you ineffectually
on that subject.
"I think myself bound to believe her in a case where
she is the proper judge, and shall eagerly consent to make
her happy in her own way. That, sir, is my decision."
I will not repeat the rest of our conversation. Your
letters have given me some knowledge of your brother,
and I endeavoured by the mildness, sedateness, and
firmness of my carriage to elude those extremes to
which his domineering passions were likely to carry him.
I carefully avoided every thing that tended in the least
to exasperate. HIe was prone enough to rage, but I
quietly submitted to all that he could say. I was sincerely
rejoiced when the conference came to an end.
Whence came your brother thus abruptly? Have you
seen him? Yet he told me that you had. Alas! what
must you have suffered from his impetuosity!
I look with impatience for your next letter, in which
you will tell what has happened.