J792" Nina, a story. Il< 



.sefs the handsomest woman in Venice ? Has flie not beau- 

 ty, wit, vivacity, — in a word, all the accompliflimcnts 

 •which please me in Nina ?" The pafsionate, delicate lover, 

 the honest man, and the christian, were all roused ia 

 him. 



. Allien the lady who had been invited, complimented her 

 iriend on the entertainment, which was very elegant, the 

 senator, with the greatest satisfaction, heard his wife reply 

 " tha': whatever pleasure fhe found in receiving her as flie 

 merited, flie could not but own, her husband had the great- 

 est fliare in her endeavours to make it agreeable, hoping 

 at the same time, both were satisfied. " She besought her 

 to pardon this avowal, which was rendered excusable by so 

 long an absence as the senator had made her endure, and 

 the sentiments fhe now entertained. She saw her hus- 

 band's happy situation j flie had too much interest in the 

 discovery, to let it escape her. 



She seized this opportunity to present his thildren to 

 him, whose education nad been committed to the care of an 

 accomplillied governeTs, and who had dined in a separate 

 apartment. 1 heir natural tendernefs, and the instructions 

 tliey had received, previous to tliis interview, made them 

 run into the arnIS of their father, who gave them an equally 

 cordial reception. His wife, who did not omit one aisidu- 

 ity or politenel's, as if Ihe had feared lest their fondnefs 

 fliould be troublesome to her husband, ordered them to re- 

 tire. The senator, who penetrated into the motive of her 

 giving that order, said, iu a tender tone of voice, " why do 

 you force them to leave me thus ? You cannot surely suppose 

 I have any repugnance at seeing them." This answer, which 

 in'^pired the two ladies who were present at this moving 

 scene, with hopes that the love of his children would arouse 

 in him that which he had formerly had for his wife, forced 

 them to let fall some tears which they could not re- 

 f:^n. 



