I say ought to be, I mean that in these days, I hope and believe,
it is impossible for any one to be forced to do wrong, unless, from a
natural weakness and facility of disposition, and from a want of moral
courage, their resistance is so feeble, that those who seek to compel
them to evil are induced to redouble their efforts, when a little
firmness and decision clearly shown, and steadily adhered to, would have
produced a very different result."

"Oh that I could think so!" exclaimed Miss Saville ardently: she paused
for a minute, as if in thought, and then resumed in a low mournful
voice, "But you do not know--you cannot tell; besides, it is useless to
struggle against destiny: there are people fated from childhood to grief
and misfortune--alone in this cold world"--she paused, then continued
abruptly, "you have a sister?"

"Yes," replied I; "I have as good a little sister as ever man was
fortunate enough to possess--how glad I should be to introduce her to
you!"

"And you love each other?"

"Indeed we do, truly and sincerely."

"And you are a man, one of the lords of the creation," she continued,
with a slight degree of sarcasm in her tone. "Well, Mr. Fairlegh, I can
believe that you may be happy sometimes."

"And what ami to conjecture about you?" inquired I, fixing my eyes upon
her expressive features.

"What you please," returned she, turning away with a very becoming
blush--"or rather," she added, "do not waste your time in forming any
conjectures whatever on such an uninteresting subject."

"I am more easily interested than you imagine," replied I, with a smile;
"besides, you know I am fond of studying character."

"The riddle is not worth reading," answered Miss Saville.

"Nevertheless, I shall not be contented till I have found it out; I
shall guess it before long, depend upon it," returned I.

An incredulous shake of the head was her only reply, and we continued
conversing on indifferent subjects till we reached Elm Lodge.~272~~

CHAPTER XXXV -- A MYSTERIOUS LETTER

"Good company's a chess-board--there are kings,
Queens, bishops, knights, rooks, pawns.
The world's a game."
_Byron_.

"My soul hath felt a secret weight,
A warning of approaching fate."
_Rokeby_.

"Oh! lady, weep no more; lest I give cause
To be suspected of more tenderness
Than doth become a man."
_Shakspeare