so--but I hate mysteries and
concealments.'

'I am not changed, Helen--unfortunately I am as keen and passionate as
ever--it is not I, it is circumstances that are changed.'

'What circumstances? Do tell me!' Her cheek was blanched with the very
anguish of anxiety--could it be with the fear that I had rashly pledged
my faith to another?

'I'll tell you at once,' said I. 'I will confess that I came here for
the purpose of seeing you (not without some monitory misgivings at my own
presumption, and fears that I should be as little welcome as expected
when I came), but I did not know that this estate was yours until
enlightened on the subject of your inheritance by the conversation of two
fellow-passengers in the last stage of my journey; and then I saw at once
the folly of the hopes I had cherished, and the madness of retaining them
a moment longer; and though I alighted at your gates, I determined not to
enter within them; I lingered a few minutes to see the place, but was
fully resolved to return to M-- without seeing its mistress.'

'And if my aunt and I had not been just returning from our morning drive,
I should have seen and heard no more of you?'

'I thought it would be better for both that we should not meet,' replied
I, as calmly as I could, but not daring to speak above my breath, from
conscious inability to steady my voice, and not daring to look in her
face lest my firmness should forsake me altogether. 'I thought an
interview would only disturb your peace and madden me. But I am glad,
now, of this opportunity of seeing you once more and knowing that you
have not forgotten me, and of assuring you that I shall never cease to
remember you.'

There was a moment's pause. Mrs. Huntingdon moved away, and stood in the
recess of the window. Did she regard this as an intimation that modesty
alone prevented me from asking her hand? and was she considering how to
repulse me with the smallest injury to my feelings? Before I could speak
to relieve her from such a perplexity, she broke the silence herself by
suddenly turning towards me and observing--

'You might have had such an opportunity before--as far, I mean, as
regards assuring me of your kindly recollections, and yourself of mine,
if you had written to me.'

'I would have done so, but I did not know your address, and did not like
to ask your brother, because I thought he would object to my writing; but
this would not have deterred me for a moment, i