Here she could remain in safety and tranquillity, till the term, for

which La Vallee might be let, should expire; or, till the arrangement

of M. Motteville's affairs enabled her so far to estimate the remains of

her fortune, as to judge whether it would be prudent for her to reside

there. Concerning Montoni's conduct with respect to his letters to M. Quesnel,

she had many doubts; however he might be at first mistaken on the

subject, she much suspected that he wilfully persevered in his error, as

a means of intimidating her into a compliance with his wishes of uniting

her to Count Morano. Whether this was or was not the fact, she was

extremely anxious to explain the affair to M. Quesnel, and looked

forward with a mixture of impatience, hope and fear, to her approaching

visit. On the following day, Madame Montoni, being alone with Emily, introduced

the mention of Count Morano, by expressing her surprise, that she had

not joined the party on the water the preceding evening, and at

her abrupt departure to Venice. Emily then related what had passed,

expressed her concern for the mutual mistake that had occurred between

Montoni and herself, and solicited her aunt's kind offices in urging him

to give a decisive denial to the count's further addresses; but she

soon perceived, that Madame Montoni had not been ignorant of the late

conversation, when she introduced the present.

'You have no encouragement to expect from me,' said her aunt, 'in these

notions. I have already given my opinion on the subject, and think

Signor Montoni right in enforcing, by any means, your consent. If young

persons will be blind to their interest, and obstinately oppose it, why,

the greatest blessings they can have are friends, who will oppose their

folly. Pray what pretensions of any kind do you think you have to such a

match as is now offered you?'

'Not any whatever, Madam,' replied Emily, 'and, therefore, at least,

suffer me to be happy in my humility.' 'Nay, niece, it cannot be denied, that you have pride enough; my poor

brother, your father, had his share of pride too; though, let me add,

his fortune did not justify it.'

Emily, somewhat embarrassed by the indignation, which this malevolent

allusion to her father excited, and by the difficulty of rendering her

answer as temperate as it should be reprehensive, hesitated for some

moments, in a confusion, which highly gratified her aunt. At length she

said, 'My father's pride, Madam, had a noble object--the happiness which

he knew could be derived only from goodness, knowledge and charity.

As it never consisted in his superiority, in point of fortune, to some

persons, it was not humbled by his inferiority, in that respect, to

others. He never disdained those, who were wretched by poverty

and misfortune; he did sometimes despise persons, who, with many

opportunities of happiness, rendered themselves miserable by vanity,

ignorance and cruelty. I shall think it my highest glory to emulate such

pride.' 'I do not pretend to understand any thing of these high-flown

sentiments, niece; you have all that glory to yourself: I would teach

you a little plain sense, and not have you so wise as to despise

happiness.' 'That would indeed not be wisdom, but folly,' said Emily, 'for wisdom

can boast no higher attainment than happiness; but you will allow,

Madam, that our ideas of happiness may differ. I cannot doubt, that you

wish me to be happy, but I must fear you are mistaken in the means of

making me so.' 'I cannot boast of a learned education, niece, such as your father

thought proper to give you, and, therefore, do not pretend to understand

all these fine speeches about happiness. I must be contented to

understand only common sense, and happy would it have been for you and

your father, if that had been included in his education.'




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