sk me, because
if you do, I shall feel it my duty to tell you; and I would rather not,
sir, except you press me. But why after all should I make a secret
of it. It is, papa, the test of all things, as well as of Charles's
punctuality--for, of his affection I will never doubt. It is time--time;
but indeed I wish you had not spoken to me about it; I was not uneasy."

The poor girl judged Osborne through a misapprehension which, had she
known more I of life, or even reflected upon his neglect in writing
to her, would have probably caused her to contemplate his conduct in a
different light. She thought because his letters were nearly as frequent
since his return to England, as they had been during his tour on the
continent, that the test of his respect and attachment was sustained.
In fact, she was ignorant that he had written several letters of late to
his own family, without having addressed to her a single line; or even
mentioned her name, and this circumstance was known to them all, with
the exception of herself, as was the tutor's previous letter, of which
she had never heard.

It was no wonder, therefore, that her father, who was acquainted with
this, and entertained such serious apprehensions for his daughter's
state of mind, should feel anxious, that until Osborne's conduct were
better understood, no doubt of his sincerity should reach the confiding
girl's heart. The old man, however, unconsciously acted upon his own
impressions rather than on Jane's knowledge of what had occurred. In
truth, he forgot that the actual state of the matter was unknown to her,
and the consequence was, that in attempting to efface an impression that
did not exist, he alarmed her suspicion by his mysterious earnestness of
manner, and thereby created the very uneasiness he wished to remove.

From this day forward, Jane's eye became studiously vigilant of the
looks and motions of the family. Her melancholy returned, but I it was
softer and serener than it had ever been before; so did the mild but
pensive spirit of devotion which had uniformly accompanied it. The
sweetness of her manner was irresistible, if not affecting, for there
breathed through the composure of her countenance an air of mingled
sorrow and patience, so finely blended, that it was difficult to
determine, on looking at her, whether she secretly rejoiced or mourned.

A few days more brought another letter from Osborne to his father, which
contained a proposal for which th