BELINDA.

BY

MARIA EDGEWORTH.

IN THREE VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

FOURTH EDITION,

CORRECTED AND IMPROVED.

"A prudence undeceiving, undeceived,
"That nor too little, nor too much believed;
"That scorn'd unjust Suspicion's coward fear,
"And without weakness knew to be sincere."

Lord LYTTELTON's Monody on his Wife.

LONDON: PRINTED FOR R. HUNTER,
SUCCESSOR TO J. JOHNSON, ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD;
AND BALDWIN, CRADOCK, AND JOY,

PATERNOSTER-ROW.

1821.

BELINDA.

CHAPTER XII.

SORTES VIRGILIANE.

WHEN Belinda got home, lady Delacour was busy in the library, looking over a collection of French plays with the ci-divant count de N; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play, than see it performed at the theatre. Even those who were not judges of his merit, and who had little taste for literature, crowded to hear him, because it was the fashion.Lady Delacour engaged him for a reading party at her house, and he was consulting with her what play would be most