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.

69

There was another article in her possession, of some
value in traffic, and of a kind which M'Crea was far more
likely to accept. It was the miniature portrait of her
friend, executed by a German artist, and set in gold.
This image was a precious though imperfect substitute
for sympathy and intercourse with the original. Habit
had made this picture a source of a species of idolatry.
Its power over her sensations was similar to that possessed
by a beautiful Madonna over the heart of a juvenile enthusiast. It was the mother of the only devotion which
her education had taught her to consider as beneficial or
true.
She perceived the necessity of parting with it, on this
occasion, with the utmost clearness, but this necessity was
thought upon with indescribable repugnance. It seemed
as if she had not thoroughly conceived the extent of her
calamity till now. It seemed as if she could have endured the loss of eyes with less reluctance than the loss
of this inestimable relic. Bitter were the tears which
she shed over it as she took it from her bosom and consigned it to those rapacious hands that were stretched out
to receive it. She derived some little consolation from
the promises of this man that he would keep it safely till
she was able to redeem it.
The other condition-that of immediate removal from
the house-seemed at first sight impracticable. Some
reflection, however, showed her that the change might
not only be possible but useful. Among other expedients
for diminishing expense, that of limiting her furniture
and dwelling to the cheapest standard had often occurred.
She now remembered that the house occupied by Monrose
was tenantless; that its antiquity, its remote and unpleasant situation, and its small dimensions, might induce
M'Crea, to whom it belonged, to let it at a much lower
price than that which he now exacted. M'Crea would
have been better pleased if her choice had fallen on a
different house; but he had powerful though sordid reasons
for desiring the possession of this tenement. He assented,
therefore, to her proposal, provided her removal took place
without delay.
In the present state of her funds this removal was