journey to Quebec had
removed the veil love had placed between her and truth; that she was
now convinced the faint hope she had encouraged was madness, and that
our souls were formed for each other.

She owned she still loved him with the most lively affection; yet
assured me, since she was not allowed to make the most amiable of
mankind happy herself, she wished him to be so with the woman on earth
she thought most worthy of him.

She added, that she had on first seeing me, though she thought me
worthy his heart, felt an impulse of dislike which she was ashamed to
own, even now that reason and reflexion had conquered so unworthy a
sentiment; that Rivers's complaisance had a little dissipated her
chagrin, and enabled her to behave to me in the manner she did: that
she had, however, almost hated me at the ball in the country: that the
tenderness in Rivers's eyes that day whenever they met mine, and his
comparative inattention to her, had wounded her to the soul.

That this preference had, however, been salutary, though painful;
since it had determined her to conquer a passion, which could only make
her life wretched if it continued; that, as the first step to this
conquest, she had resolved to see him no more: that she would return to
her house the moment she could cross the river with safety; and
conjured me, for her sake, to persuade him to give up all thoughts of a
settlement near her; that she could not answer for her own heart if she
continued to see him; that she believed in love there was no safety but
in flight.

That his absence had given her time to think coolly; and that she
now saw so strongly the amiableness of my character, and was so
convinced of my perfect tenderness for him, that she should hate
herself were she capable of wishing to interrupt our happiness.

That she hoped I would pardon her retaining a tender remembrance of
a man who, had he never seen me, might have returned her affection;
that she thought so highly of my heart, as to believe I could not hate
a woman who esteemed me, and who solicited my friendship, though a
happy rival.

I was touched, even to tears, at her behaviour: we embraced; and, if
I know my own weak foolish heart, I love her.

She talks of leaving Quebec before Rivers's return; she said, her
coming was an imprudence which only love could excuse; and that she
had no motive for her journey but the desire of seeing him, which was
so lively as to hurry her into an indisc