herself
sufficiently strong to bear every other evil; but to be assured of his
inconstancy, was an idea she could scarcely endure.

Although Albert might decidedly be called a person of discernment, still
he had not yet fully discovered the deceptive powers of Bonville, whose
many evil propensities were in a manner concealed, by a condescending
courtesy and affability; though his mind inherited ill-nature and
sarcasm in the extreme.

The sprightliness of his manners, mingled with a certain degree of
humour and generous sentiments, occasionally mingling with his
discourse, threw a veil over his imperfections, and excited one's
admiration.

Albert thought him ungenerous for many scandalous assertions concerning
Theodore, and he still hoped he might again arrive on his native shores,
and be able to answer all suggestions to his disadvantage.

Alida had never discerned his real character, therefore she reposed full
confidence in all he said. His behaviour to her was respectful, and his
exterior extremely prepossessing. He appeared all goodness and
benevolence, and ever expressed the most generous sentiments towards
those he pretended to censure.

These deceitful appearances were joined with a semblance of piety; and
he could at any time make himself appear to advantage, by the display of
a variety of superficial knowledge. He was proud to excess, as if he
really possessed qualities to be proud of. One would scarcely suppose
that such a person could be capable of true attachment, but so it
certainly was; that knowing the many imperfections of his own nature,
caused him more deeply to revere the opposite qualities in Alida, and
the idea of shortly gaining her hand, carried his senses to such a pitch
of enthusiasm, that it would not be thought strange to suppose, that the
disappointment of his pride would overwhelm him with lasting dismay.

The superior excellence of Theodore furnished a mark for the calumny of
Bonville, supposing his own success depended on the disparagement of the
other. Thus envy is usually led to asperse what it cannot imitate; and
the little mind scandalizes the pre-eminence of its neighbour, and
endeavours to depreciate the good qualities that it cannot attain to.

Thus the distempered eye is impatient of prevailing brightness, and by
attempting to observe the lucid object, inadvertently betrays its own
weakness; and persons of their unhappy complexion, regard all praises
conferred upon another,