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.

18 JANE TALBOT.
afraid I never shall bring myself to part with the liberty
of prating on every subject that pleases me; at least, my
forbearance will flow from my own discretion, and not
from the imperious prohibition of another."
He laughed. "Well said, oddity. I am not displeased
to see you act with some spirit: but I repeat my charge;
be qtuiet. Your interference will do no good."
" Indeed, I firmly believe that it will not; and that will
be a motive for my silence that shall always have its due
weight with me. Risberg, I see, must look elsewhere for
a father and a brother."
"Poor thing! do; put its finger in its eye and weep.
a 1a! ha! ha! poor Risberg! how would he laugh to see
these compassionate tears! It seem she has written in a
very doleful strain to thee, —talked very pathetically about
his debts to his laundress and his landlady. I have a
good mind to leave thee in this amiable ignorance; but
I'll prove for once a kind brother, by telling you that
Risberg is a profligate and prodigal; that he neglects
every study but that of dice; that this is the true reason
why I have stood in the way of the old man's bounty to
him. I have unquestionable proof of his worthlessness,
and see no reason to throw away money upon London prostitutes and gamblers. I never mentioned this to the old
man, because I would not needlessly distress him, for I
know he loves Jack at least as well as his own children.
I tell it you to justify my conduct, and hope that I may
for once trust to your good sense not to disclose it to
your father."
My heart could not restrain its indignation at these
words.
"'Tis false!" I exclaimedl; "'tis a horrid calumny
against one who cannot defend himself! I will never believe the depravity of my absent brother, till I have as
good proof of it as my present brother has given me of
his."
"'Bravo, my girl! who could have thought you could
give the lie with such a grace? Why don't you spit in
the face of the vile calumniator? But I am not angry
with you, Jane; I only pity you; yet i'll not leave you
before I tell you my mind. I have no doubt Risberg