e impatient for my
return. I will order them to drive home."

As we drove along, leaning against the back of the carriage, my hand
happened to touch that of Susannah, which lay beside her on the cushion,
I could not resist taking it in mine, and it was not withdrawn. What my
thoughts were, the reader may imagine; Susannah's I cannot acquaint him
with; but in that position we remained in silence until the carriage
stopped at Cophagus's door. I handed Susannah out of the carriage, and
went up stairs for a few moments. Mrs Cophagus and her husband were out.

"Susannah, this is very kind of you, and I return you my thanks. I never
felt more happy than when seated with you in that carriage."

"I have received both amusement and instruction, Japhet, and ought to
thank you. Do you know what passed in my mind at one time?"

"No--tell me."

"When I first knew you, and you came among us, I was, as it were, the
guide, a presumptuous one perhaps to you, and you listened to me--now
it is reversed--now that we are removed and in the world, it is you that
are the guide, and it is I who listen and obey."

"Because, Susannah, when we first met I was much in error, and had
thought too little of serious things, and you were fit to be my guide:
now we are mixing in the world, with which I am better acquainted than
yourself. You then corrected me, when I was wrong: I now point out to
you where you are not rightly informed: but, Susannah, what you have
learnt of me is as nought compared with the valuable precepts which I
gained from your lips--precepts which, I trust, no collision with the
world will ever make me forget."

"Oh! I love to hear you say that; I was fearful that the world would
spoil you, Japhet; but it will not--will it?"

"Not so long as I have you still with me, Susannah: but if I am obliged
to mix again with the world, tell me, Susannah, will you reject me?--will
you desert me?--will you return to your own people and leave me so
exposed? Susannah, dearest, you must know how long, how dearly I have
loved you:--you know that, if I had not been sent for and obliged to obey
the message, I would have lived and died content with you. Will you not
listen to me now, or do you reject me?"

I put my arm round her waist, her head fell upon my shoulder, and she
burst into tears. "Speak, dearest, this suspense is torture to me,"
continued I.

"I do love you, Japhet," replied she at last, looking fondly at me
through her tears