The heart and the fancy

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1813 edition. Excerpt: ...Quintin, "they may have by dint of obstinacy; but "to consistency, I believe a woman seldom "has any pretensions, though I confess I "wish you could have proved them to possess discretion." "Oh, my dear Sir," cried Adela, " that is so common-place a quality." "Not "Not so, fair lady; in discretion I in"elude prudence, propriety, and secrecy; "now in my opinion, a love-sick girl is "the only female capable of concealment." "Mr. Quintin," cried Celia, rising with vehemence, "I predict, you will, ere many "days, change your opinion. What "would you fay, Sir, to two women divid"ing a secret between them for fifteen "years r" "Say, Madam? That their secret would "not admit of a subdivision; it must "have been some partnership in fraud--u some sisterly compact of iniquity." "No, Sir, no--the prejudice is unwor"thy of you: I could bring witnesses; "Mr. De Lille can vouch." Here, suddenly checking herself, she added, " Mr. "De Lille could prove to you that women "are capable of discretion." "Very true, Madam; he has an example "in his own wife." Mrs. De Lille coloured at this unlucky compliment, but her own consciousness did, c 4 not not prevent her remarking her husband's embarrassment, and she was revisited by a qualm of suspicion. Adela, now anxious to close the contention, called upon Altamont to vindicate the character of her sex. "I am not sure," said he,. that it would be any compliment to them, to allow that they equal men in every pro perty of prudence. They have so few "faults, that they are perhaps not equally "circumspect in concealing them. Inno"cence is almost too ingenuous for dis cretion. "Through chrystal walls the slightest moth will "peep," "Their chartered virtue is modesty; and if to that we add generosity, truth, con"stancy,...