nger of the sin of idolatry?" she at length succeeded
in saying.

"No, I am in danger of narrowing my sympathies--of losing a broad and
safe hold of life--of losing my proper stake in society--of--in short,
of becoming as useless to my fellows as my poor, poor father, and of
making an end as miserable. Oh! Anna, could you have witnessed the
hopelessness of that death-bed, you could never wish me a fate like
his!"

My pen is unequal to convey an adequate idea of the expression with
which Anna regarded me. Wonder, doubt, apprehension, affection, and
anguish were all beaming in her eyes; but the unnatural brightness of
these conflicting sentiments was tempered by a softness that resembled
the pearly lustre of an Italian sky.

"If I yield to my fondness, Anna, in what will my condition differ from
that of my miserable father's? He concentrated his feelings in the love
of money, and I--yes, I feel it here, I know it is here--I should love
you so intensely as to shut out every generous sentiment in favor of
others. I have a fearful responsibility on my shoulders--wealth, gold;
gold beyond limits; and to save my very soul I must extend not narrow my
interest in my fellow-creatures. Were there a hundred such Annas I might
press you all to my heart--but, one!--no--no--'twould be misery--'twould
be perdition! The very excess of such a passion would render me a
heartless miser, unworthy of the confidence of my fellow-men!"

The radiant and yet serene eyes of Anna seemed to read my soul; and when
I had done speaking she arose, stole timidly to my side of the table, as
woman approaches when she feels most, placed her velvet-like hand on
my burning forehead, pressed its throbbing pulses gently to her heart,
burst into tears, and fled.

We dined alone, nor did we meet again until the dinner hour. The manner
of Anna was soothing, gentle, even affectionate; but she carefully
avoided the subject of the morning. As for myself, I was constantly
brooding over the danger of concentrating interests, and of the
excellence of the social-stake system. "Your spirits will be better,
Jack, in a day or two," said Anna, when we had taken wine after the
soup. "Country air and old friends will restore your freshness and
color."

"If there were a thousand Annas I could be happy as man was never happy
before! But I must not, dare not, lessen my hold on society."

"All of which proves my insufficiency to render you happy. But here
comes Francis w