ou love me more than
I deserve. Please do not be angry: do not be mortified. There is no
occasion; I am resolved not to marry until I am of age; that is all; and
where's the harm of that?"

"I will wait your pleasure; all I ask you, at present, is to relieve me
of my fears, by engaging yourself to me."

"Ah! but I have always been warned against long engagements."

"Long engagements! Why, how old are you, may I ask?"

"Only nineteen. Give me a little time to think."

"If I wait till you are of age, THAT WILL BE TWO YEARS."

"Just about. I was nineteen on the 12th of December. What is the
matter?"

"Oh, nothing. A sudden twinge. A man does not get rolled over sharp
rocks, by a mountain torrent, for nothing."

"No, indeed."

"Never mind that, if I'm not to be punished in my heart as well. This
resolution, not to marry for two years, is it your own idea? or has
somebody put it into your head since we stood on Cairnhope, and looked
at Bollinghope?"

"Please give me credit for it," said Grace, turning very red: "it is the
only sensible one I have had for a long time."

Mr. Coventry groaned aloud, and turned very pale.

Grace said she wanted to go upstairs for her work, and so got away from
him.

She turned at the door, and saw him sink into a chair, with an agony in
his face that was quite new to him.

She fled to her own room, to think it all over, and she entered it so
rapidly that she caught Jael crying, and rocking herself before the
fire.

The moment she came in Jael got up, and affected to be very busy,
arranging things; but always kept her back turned to Grace.

The young lady sat down, and leaned her cheek on her hand, and reflected
very sadly and seriously on the misery she had left in the drawing-room,
and the tears she had found here.

Accustomed to make others bright and happy by her bare presence, this
beautiful and unselfish young creature was shocked at the misery she
was sowing around her, and all for something her judgment told her would
prove a chimera. And again she asked herself was she brave enough, and
selfish enough, to defy her father and her godfather, whose mind was
written so clearly in that terrible inscription.

She sat there, cold at heart, a long time, and at last came to a
desperate resolution.

"Give me my writing-desk."

Jael brought it her.

"Sit down there where I can see you; and don't hide your tears from
me. I want to see you cry. I want every help. I wasn't