frequent hesitation, as
unwilling to pronounce her friend's condemnation (which, as being
unused to falsehood, was really unaffected) he imputed to tenderness
and concern for Caelia; but he did not in the least doubt, but on his
application to her he should soon be convinced of the truth of what
Chloe had said.

He then went directly to the arbour at the end of the garden, and there
to his wish he found Caelia quite alone; and he addressed her exactly in
the same manner concerning her cousin, as he had before spoke to Chloe
concerning her. Caelia suddenly blushed (from motives I leave those to
find out who can put themselves in her circumstances) and then fetched a
soft sigh, from the thought that she was hearing a man she loved declare
a passion of which she was not the object. But after some little
pause, she told him, that if Chloe had any faults, they were to her yet
undiscovered, and she really and sincerely believed her cousin would
make him extremely happy. Sempronius then said, that of all other
things, TREACHERY and ENVY were what he had the greatest dislike to: and
he asked her, if she did not think her cousin was a little tainted with
these?--Here Caelia could not help interrupting, and assuring him, that
she believed her totally free from both. And, from his casting on
her friend an aspersion which her very soul abhorred, forgetting all
rivalship, she could not refrain from growing quite lavish in her
praise. 'Suppose then (said Sempronius) I was to say the same to your
cousin concerning my intentions towards you as I have to you concerning
her, do you think she would say as many fine things in your praise as
you have done in hers?'

Caelia answered, that she verily believed her cousin would say as much
for her as she really deserved; but whether that would be equal to what
with justice she could say of Chloe, her modesty left her in some doubt
of.

Sempronius had too much penetration not to see the real and true
difference in the behaviour of these two women, and could not help
crying out, 'O Caelia! your honest truth and goodness in every word and
look are too visible to leave me one doubt of their reality. But, could
you believe it? this friend of yours is false. I have already put her
to the trial, by declaring to her my sincere and unalterable passion
for you. When, on my insisting, as I did to you, upon her speaking the
truth, she accused you of what nothing should now convince me you are
guilty of