my belief that Eliza Millward and she, if not the very
originators of the slanderous reports that have been propagated, were
designedly the encouragers and chief disseminators of them. She was not
desirous to mix up your name in the matter, of course, but her delight
was, and still is, to blacken your sister's character to the utmost of
her power, without risking too greatly the exposure of her own
malevolence!'

'I cannot believe it,' interrupted my companion, his face burning with
indignation.

'Well, as I cannot prove it, I must content myself with asserting that it
is so to the best of my belief; but as you would not willingly marry Miss
Wilson if it were so, you will do well to be cautious, till you have
proved it to be otherwise.'

'I never told you, Markham, that I intended to marry Miss Wilson,' said
he, proudly.

'No, but whether you do or not, she intends to marry you.'

'Did she tell you so?'

'No, but--'

'Then you have no right to make such an assertion respecting her.' He
slightly quickened his pony's pace, but I laid my hand on its mane,
determined he should not leave me yet.

'Wait a moment, Lawrence, and let me explain myself; and don't be so
very--I don't know what to call it--inaccessible as you are.--I know what
you think of Jane Wilson; and I believe I know how far you are mistaken
in your opinion: you think she is singularly charming, elegant, sensible,
and refined: you are not aware that she is selfish, cold-hearted,
ambitious, artful, shallow-minded--'

'Enough, Markham--enough!'

'No; let me finish:--you don't know that, if you married her, your home
would be rayless and comfortless; and it would break your heart at last
to find yourself united to one so wholly incapable of sharing your
tastes, feelings, and ideas--so utterly destitute of sensibility, good
feeling, and true nobility of soul.'

'Have you done?' asked my companion quietly.

'Yes;--I know you hate me for my impertinence, but I don't care if it
only conduces to preserve you from that fatal mistake.'

'Well!' returned he, with a rather wintry smile--'I'm glad you have
overcome or forgotten your own afflictions so far as to be able to study
so deeply the affairs of others, and trouble your head so unnecessarily
about the fancied or possible calamities of their future life.'

We parted--somewhat coldly again: but still we did not cease to be
friends; and my well-meant warning, though it might have been more
judiciou