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.

TIHE SECRET WITNESS.

11I

To say that Helena Cleves was silly or ignorant would be
hatefully unjust. Her understanding bore no disadvantageous comparison with that of the majority of her sex;
but, when placed in competition with that of some eminent females or of Ormond, it was exposed to the risk of
contempt.
This lady and Ormond were exposed to mutual examination. The latter was not unaffected by the radiance that
environed this girl, but her true character was easily discovered, and he was accustomed to regard her merely as
an object charming to the senses. His attention to her
was dictated by this principle. When she sang or talked,
it was not unworthy of the strongest mind to be captivated with her music and her elocution; but these were
the limits which he set to his gratifications. That sensations of a different kind never ruffled his tranquillity
must not be supposed, but he too accurately estimated
their consequences to permit himself to indulge them.
Unhappily, the lady did not exercise equal fortitude.
During a certain interval Ormond's visits were frequent,
and she insensibly contracted for him somewhat more
than reverence. The tenor of his discourse was little
adapted to cherish her hopes. In the declaration of his
opinions he was never withheld by scruples of decorum
or a selfish regard to his own interest. IHis matrimonial
tenets were harsh and repulsive. A woman of keener penetration would have predicted, from them, the disappointment of her wishes; but Helena's mind was uninured to
the discussion of logical points and the tracing of remote
consequences. His presence inspired feelings which would
not permit her to bestow an impartial attention on his
arguments. It is not enough to say that his reasonings
failed to convince her: the combined influence of passion
and an unenlightened understanding hindered her from
fully comprehending them. All she gathered was a vague
conception of something magnificent and vast in his character.
Helena was destined to experience the vicissitudes of
fortune. Her father died suddenly and left her without
provision. She was compelled to accept the invitations
of a kinswoman, and live, in some sort, a life of depend