Page:Clermont - Roche (1798, volume 1).djvu/86

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to the lobby;—but here she paused and reflected,

"Good heavens! (cried she, whilst she felt her cheeks suffused with the burning blushes of shame); good heavens, what am I about doing!—going to steal meanly upon the privacy of my father and his friend!—a father, from whose uniform tenderness I might well suppose that nothing which had a tendency to promote my happiness would be concealed;—a father, who has so sedulously cautioned me against any action contrary to virtue; that any deviation in me is inexcusable.—Fie, fie, Madeline, what a wretch art thou! how unworthy of his goodness! how little benefited by his precepts!" She returned to her chamber, fastened the door, and sitting down upon the bed, burst into an agony of tears—"I shall be ashamed to meet my father's eyes in the morning (cried she), I am sure my looks will betray my guilt: well I am resolved I will punish myself for it;