unes or in my dress,
believe me, my heart shall not be changed, and I shall ever adhere to
those principles which have been instilled into me since I have been in
your company."

This was a phrase which admitted of a double meaning, and she replied,
"I should wish to see thee perfect, Japhet; but there is no perfection
now on earth; be therefore as perfect as you can."

"God bless you, Susannah."

"May the blessing of the Lord be on you always, Japhet," replied she.

I put my arm round her waist, and slightly pressed her to my bosom. She
gently disengaged herself, and her large eyes glistened with tears as she
left the room. In a quarter of an hour I was with Mr Masterton on the road
to London.

"Japhet," said the old gentleman, "I will say that you have been very
wise in your choice, and that your little Quaker is a most lovely
creature: I am in love with her myself, and I think that she is far
superior in personal attractions to Cecilia de Clare."

"Indeed, sir!"

"Yes, indeed; her face is more classical, and her complexion is
unrivalled; as far as my present knowledge and experience go, she is an
emblem of purity."

"Her mind, sir, is as pure as her person."

"I believe it; she has a strong mind, and will think for herself."

"There, sir, is, I am afraid, the difficulty; she will not yield a point
in which she thinks she is right, not even for her love for me."

"I agree with you that she will not, and I admire her for it; but,
Japhet, she will yield to conviction, and, depend upon it, she will
abandon the outward observances of her persuasion. Did you observe what
a spoke I put in your wheel last night, when I stated that outward forms
were pride. Leave that to work, and I'll answer for the consequences: she
will not long wear that Quaker's dress. How beautiful she would be if she
dressed like other people! I think I see her now entering a ball-room."

"But what occasions you to think she will abandon her persuasion?"

"I do not say that she will abandon it, nor do I wish her to do it, nor
do I wish you to do it, Japhet. There is much beauty and much perfection
in the Quaker's creed. All that requires to be abandoned are the dress
and the ceremonies of the meetings, which are both absurdities.
Recollect, that Miss Temple has been brought up as a Quaker; she has,
from the exclusiveness of the sect, known no other form of worship, and
never heard any opposition to that which has been inculcated; but let