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.

THE SECRET WITNESS.

83

this city. The latter, on some occasion, had spent a few
nights at her father's house. She was greatly charmed
with the humanity that shone forth in his conversation
and behaviour. From that time to this, all intercourse
had ceased. She was acquainted with the place of his
abode, and knew him to be affluent. To him she determined to apply as a suppliant in behalf of her father.
She did not inform Mr. Dudley of this intention, conceiving it best to wait till the event had been ascertained, for fear of exciting fallacious expectations. She
was further deterred by the apprehension of awakening
his pride and bringing on herself an absolute prohibition.
She arrived at the door of Mr. Melbourne's house, and,
inquiring for the master of it, was informed that he had
gone out of town, and was not expected to return within
a week.
Her scheme, which was by no means unplausible, was
thus completely frustrated. There was but one other resource, on which she had already deliberated, and to which
she had determined to apply if that should fail. That was
to claim assistance from the 'superintendents of.the poor.
She was employed in considering to which of them, and
in what manner, she should make her application, when
she turned the corner of Lombard and Second Streets.
That had scarcely been done, when, casting her eyes
mournfully round her, she caught a glimpse of a person
whom she instantly recognised, passing into the marketplace. She followed him with quick steps, and, on a
second examination, found that she had not been mistaken. This was no other than Thomas Craig, to whose
malignity and cunning all her misfortunes were imputable.
She was at first uncertain what use to make of this discovery. She followed him almost instinctively, and saw
him at length enter the Indian Queen Tavern. Here she
stopped. She entertained a confused conception that
some beneficial consequences might be extracted from
this event. In the present hurry of her thoughts she
could form no satisfactory conclusion; but it instantly
occurred to her that it would at least be proper to ascertain the place of his abode. She stepped into the inn
and made the suitable inquiries. She was informed that