my devotion! I begin to feel desperate, and have half a
mind to transfer my affections to Anne Bernard."

"Do not treat me so cruelly. I assure you, my love increases every
day. Besides, you might find your perfidy punished by meeting a too
formidable rival."

"Ah, ha! I understand. Yet, I feel my chivalry a little roused at
the idea of opposition. But, on the whole, Faith, I will accept your
pledge of affection, and stick to my colors like a man and a doctor.
And, to exhibit my confidence, you may, meanwhile, flirt in moderation
with William Bernard. You will get tired of it when the novelty wears
off; so I shall escape, and it is better that you should tease him now
than me hereafter. But, dear me, here we are at your door."

Mr. Armstrong and the minister had waited for them on the step, and
the four entered together. Shortly after Pownal arrived, and somewhat
later the family of the Bernards.

We should deceive our readers if we left them to infer from the
jesting talk of the doctor that any mutual attachment existed between
Miss Armstrong and William Bernard. It was because his suspicions were
so vaguely expressed, and herself so unconscious of any feelings of
the kind, that Faith had not thought it worth while to notice them.
She and young Bernard had known each other from infancy; they had
attended the same school; the intimacy betwixt Faith and Anne, and the
friendly relations of the two families equals in wealth and station,
had brought them frequently together, but nothing could be further
from the fact than that any engagement existed between them. They
treated one another, indeed, like brother and sister; but if any
warmer emotion was felt, it was not by Faith. Her engrossing affection
for her father seemed to exclude all rivalship. The meeting exactly
expressed the footing on which the families stood. Mr. Armstrong shook
hands cordially with all, and in a few words uttered his pleasure at
welcoming them; Mrs Bernard kissed the cheek of Faith, with almost
the feeling of a mother; the greeting of the girls' was like that of
sisters, and Faith extended her hand to William Bernard, with a smile,
but without a blush.

Though utterly unlike, it would be difficult to conceive of two more
beautiful creatures than Faith Armstrong and Anne Bernard. The dark
hair of Faith, the large black eyes, the nose slightly aquiline, an
expression of countenance ordinarily composed, though not sad, but
which could be light