d, affection, were among the happiest of Edith's checkered
life: certain it is that, in after days of trial and difficulty, she
looked back upon them as on some green and sunny spot in the varied
field of memory.

But they could not last for ever. Days and weeks passed by, and Edith
was too happy in the present to occupy herself much about the future.
But her parents thought of it for her; and Roger thought of it for her,
and for himself. Her graceful manners and appearance had attracted him
on his first acquaintance with her, and the favorable impression had
been strengthened from day to day, as he acquired a more intimate
knowledge of her thoughtful character and amiable temper: and it was
not long ere he felt that his future happiness in life depended on her
returning those sentiments with which she had inspired him.

Had he been possessed of much vanity, he would not long have
entertained any doubt on this interesting point; for Edith was too open
and ingenuous, and too little in the habit of disguising her feelings,
to pretend an indifference that her heart soon denied. But the very
admiration and respect with which she inspired Roger prevented him from
'laying the flattering unction to his soul'; and caused him, for some
time, to suppose that the very evident pleasure she felt in his society
arose from the solitary life she had hitherto led, and the natural
enjoyment of an intelligent mind in conversing with one who could enter
into her feelings and tastes, and impart some fresh ideas to give food
to her thoughts and imagination.

Helen, however, was not under this misconception with regard to her
daughter's feelings, and she felt much anxiety as to the result of her
acquaintance with the young clergyman. The remarkable transparency of
Edith's character rendered it easy for a parent's eye to discover the
deep impression that Roger's fascinating manners, and rare
accomplishments, had made both on her fancy and her heart; and it was
equally easy to perceive that his affections were entirely gained, and
that he was not a man to draw back in this, or any other pursuit in
which his feelings were deeply engaged. There was a simple earnestness
of manner in every thing that he said or did that irresistibly won both
confidence and love; and Helen and her husband entertained not the
slightest doubt of the sincerity of his attachment to their child, or
of his full intention to offer his hand to her, as soon as he could
fe