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. 23
brother is speculating with his money at an enormous
rate."
"And pray," said I, (for I did not wish to betray all
the surprise that this intelligence gave me,) "in what
speculations is he engaged?"
"' Eow should I tell you, who scarcely know the meaning of the word? I only heard my father say that young
Talbot, though seemingly swallowed up in pleasure, knew
how to turn a penny as well as another, and was employing his father's wealth in speeulation; that, I remember,
was his word, but I never, for my part, took the trouble
to inquire what speculation meant. I know only that it is
some hazardous or complicated way of getting money."
These hints, though the conversation passed immediately to other subjects, made a deep impression on my
mind. My brother's character I knew to be incompatible with any sort of industry, and had various reasons
for believing my fIther's property to be locked up in
bank-stock. If my friend's story were true, there was a
new instance of the influence which Frank had acquired
over his father. I had very indistinct ideas of speculation, but was used to regard it as something very hazardous, and almost crirainjl.
I told my mother all my uneasiness. She thought it
worth while to take some means of getting at the truth,
in conversation with my father. Agreeably to her advice,
on my next visit I opened the subject, by repeating exactly
what I heard. I concluded by asking if it were true.
" Why, yes<" said he; "it is partly true, I must confess.
Some time ago Frank laid his projects before me, and
they appeared so promising and certain of success, that
I ventured to give him possession of a large sum."
"And what scheme, sir, was it, if I may venture to ask?"
"Why, child, these are subjects so much out of thy way,
that thou wouldst hardly comprehend any explanation
that I could give."
"Perhaps so; but what success, dear sir, have you
met with?"
"Why, I can't but say that affairs have not been quite
as expeditious in their progress as I had reason, at first,
to expect. Unlooked-for delays and impediments will