realized her first dream, and to whom
specially missioned angels first opened the golden gates of her heart.

"I have learnt to see, Edward, that you do not honour me with a love
you have diverted from one worthier than I am;" and in answer to the
question whether, though having to abjure her love, she loved him: "No,
no; it is my Arabella I love. I love, I will love, no one but her"--with
sundry caressing ejaculations that spring a thirst for kisses, and a
tender 'putting of the case,' now and then.

So much for Adela's part in the conflict. Edward was unaware that the
secret of her mastering him was, that she was now talking common-sense
in the tone of sentiment. He, on the contrary, talked sentiment in the
tone of common-sense. Of course he was beaten: and O, you young lovers,
when you hear the dear lips setting what you call the world's harsh
language to this music, know that an hour has struck for you! It is a
fatal sound to hear. Edward believed that his pleading had produced an
effect when he saw Miss Adela's bosom rise as with a weight on it. The
burden of her thoughts was--"How big and heavy Edward's eyes look when
he is not amusing!" To get rid of him she said, as with an impassioned
coldness, "Go." Her figure, repeating this under closed eyelids, was
mysterious, potent. When he exclaimed, "Then I will go," her eyelids
lifted wide: she shut them instantly, showing at the same time a slight
tightening-in of the upper lip. You beheld a creature tied to the stake
of Duty.

But she was exceedingly youthful, and had not reckoned upon man's being
a live machine, possessing impulses of his own. A violent seizure of
her waist, and enough of kisses to make up the sum popularly known as
a 'shower,' stopped her performance. She struggled, and muttered
passionately to be released. "We are seen," she hazarded. At the
repetition, Edward, accustomed to dread the warning, let her go and
fled. Turning hurriedly about, Adela found that she had spoken truth
unawares, and never wished so much that she had lied. Sir Twickenham
Pryme came forward to her, with his usual stiff courtly step.

"If you could have been a little--a little earlier," she murmured, with
an unflurried face, laying a trembling hand in his; and thus shielded
herself from a suspicion.

"Could I know that I was wanted?" He pressed her hand.

"I only know that I wish I had not left your side," said she--adding,
"Though you must have thought me what, if I we