with some confusion, and retired without further discourse. In her abrupt departure, she saw in Fonrose’s countenance all the marks of an affected mind. Alas! said she, I have renewed his sufferings. O what sufferings they must be that can givo him grounds to think himself more unhappy than I am? No more music, no more conversation. They neither seemed to seek nor shun each other. Looks that spoke their thoughts were all their language— it was very expressive.
When he found her weeping over her husband’s grave, he beheld her in mute attention, full of jealousy, grief, and pity, till her groans were echoed by his. A few days were past in this painful conflict, when Adelaide took notice how the young man wasted away, like a blooming flower just blasted by some malignant planet. The grief that consumed him gave her much concern, as not being entrusted with what occasioned his trouble; it was out of her power to administer any comfort. She little knew that she was the cause of his distress. It is an observation founded on nature, that when the soul admits of two passions, they will of course weaken each other. Adelaide’s regret for the love of Oreston grew less in proportion as her pity increased for the young shepherd. She was sure that her pity proceeded from no motive, but what the most innocent friendship suggested; nor did ever it occur not to give way to it; for seeing the youth plunged in so settled a melancholy, she thought it incumbent on her, after what she had professed for him, not to leave him any longer to himself. Unhappy youth! said she, the first time they met after her resolve, you perish daily, and give me the fruitless coneern of beholding you consume away, and not be able to afford you any comfort. If the recital of my imprudent conduet has not altered your opinion of me; if the most sincere friendship is dear unto you; in short, if it will not make me more unhappy than I was bofore our aequaintance, tell me, I conjure you, the cause of your afflictions. Was your
