■yS Nina, a story, Jan. xi>. 



though six years older tlian his wife, who was then but 

 twenty-four, was the person he chose to repair the lofs 

 he thought he had sustained. He accosted her one 

 day, and entered into conversation ; every action, 

 every look of her's promised him succefs. He resol- 

 ved to make an open declaration of his love, and to of- 

 fer a reward deserving of those pleasures, and that feli- 

 city, which his aucctiun for her gave liim room to ex- 

 pect. 



The treaty, as may be imagined, was soon conclu- 

 ded ; the senator used so little precaution to keep his 

 new e i.agement a secret, that all Venice was soon ac- 

 quainted with it, and his wife was not the last to hear of it. 

 Her affection which had always remained the same, and 

 had only chan ed ts form,* obliged her to complain of 

 coldn.'.fs. The senator, imagining her behaviour pro- 

 ceeded rather from a principle of self-love humbled, 

 than frohi true a action, did not seem in the least affec- 

 ted by it. His visits to Nina became more frequent, 

 and his expenccs more considerable. 



Jjespair took pofsefsion of liis wife's mind 'y when- 

 ever he came home, flie loaded him with the keenest 

 reproaches, and gave him such treatment, as the most 

 jealous fury could alone dictate. Exasperated at this 

 proceeding, he determined never to see her any 

 more. Though he had slept apart from her, ever since 

 the beginning of his amour with Nina, — he had never 

 failed to indulge her with his presence at dinner, 

 to which he always invited some friend, which screened 

 him from the violent effects of his wife's resentment j 

 but he now entirely deprived her of this happinefs. 



She then anxiously sought to devise the most infal- 

 lible way to rekindle the tlame of her huftiand's conju- 

 gal affection. Her raind suggested none that appeared 



