d in the language of the
heart; and he trusted that from his pre-eminent powers in the
science of affection, he had only to see, to sue and to conquer.]

He had frankly offered his hand to Alida, and pressed her for a decisive
answer. This from time to time she suspended, and finally named a day in
which to give him and Theodore a determinate one, though neither knew
the arrangements made with the other. Alida finding, however, the
dilemma in which she was placed, and she had previously consulted her
father. He had no objections to her choosing between two persons of
equal claims to affluence and respectability. This choice she had made,
and her father was considered the most proper person to pronounce it.

[_A&M_:

He had frankly offered his hand to Melissa, and pressed her for a
decisive answer. This from time to time she suspended, and finally
appointed a day to give him and Alonzo a determinate answer, though
neither knew the arrangements made with the other.

Finding, however, the dilemma in which she was placed, she had
previously consulted her parents. Her father had no objection to her
choosing between two persons of equal claims to affluence and
reputation; this choice she had made, and her father was considered
the most proper person to pronounce it.]

When Bonville had urged Alida to answer him decidedly, he supposed that
her hesitation, delay and suspensions, were only the effect of
diffidence. He had no suspicion of her ultimate conclusion, and when she
finally named the day to decide, he was confident her voice would be in
his favour. These sentiments he had communicated to the person who had
written to Theodore, intimating that Alida had fixed a time which was to
crown his sanguine wishes. He had listened, therefore, attentively to
the words of her father, momentarily expecting to hear himself declared
the favourite choice of the fair. What then must have been his
disappointment when the name of Theodore was pronounced instead of his
own! The highly-finished scene of pleasure and future happy prospects
which his ardent imagination had depicted, now vanished in a moment. The
bright sun of his early hopes was veiled in darkness at this unexpected
decision.

[_A&M_:

When Beauman had urged his suit to Melissa, he supposed that her
hesitations, delays and suspensions, were only the effects of maiden
diffidence and timidity. He had no suspicions of her ultimately