t state."

As my aunt talked on in this manner, while she led the way to
Edward's room, I could not summon courage to object to this
visit, till when we got near to the door, I drew back and
whispered to her, "Indeed I had better not go in; after what
occurred this morning, considering all things, it may agitate
him to see me. Indeed, indeed, it will be better not." Mrs.
Middleton looked at me with surprise, "Have I not told you,
Ellen, that he has been working himself into a fever, from his
anxiety to speak, to you? The only chance of calming him is by
yielding to this wish, and I assure you," she continued in an
earnest manner, "it may be more important than you seem to
think, to accomplish this. The consequences may be very
serious, if this fever and nervous agitation should increase."

As she said these words, without any further discussion she
opened the door, and I found myself in another moment seated
by Edward's side, his burning hand in mine, and his eyes fixed
upon me with that intense and overstrained expression which
fever gives.

"Dearest Ellen," he exclaimed, as Mrs. Middleton left the
room, "I am unreasonable, and ashamed of myself, but I could
not rest, or have a moment's peace, before I had again heard
from your lips the blessed assurance, that all that made me so
happy this morning, in spite of our fears and anxieties, was
not a dream. Say it was not, dearest."

"It was no dream," I answered, in a low voice, "but we must
not speak of such dream-like things to-night. When you are
well--"

"I am well now," he interrupted, "if you relieve my mind from
a vague fear that has haunted me ever since. Ellen, there is
no obstacle to our marriage, is there? You will be my wife?
You do not answer; you do not speak?"

His hand, which held mine, trembled, and he grew paler still
than when I had entered the room. Terrified at his agitation,
I lost the last opportunity of retracting, and murmured, "Yes,
yes, dearest Edward, I will be your wife.--May God in Heaven
bless you, and forgive me!" internally added; "and now that I
have set your mind at rest," I said with a forced smile, "I
will leave you."

"Leave me!" he rejoined, "now that you have made me happier
than words can express! No; don't leave me now, my Ellen, my
darling Ellen; whom I have loved since the days of childhood;
whom I have watched with an earnest anxiety, that has made me,
I will own it now," (he kissed my hand tenderly as he said
thi