fess, Valerie, that it has raised him greatly in my estimation to
find that he looks upon marriage as a thing so serious and solemn, and
does not rush into it from mere fancy for a pretty face and lady-like
accomplishments."

"I think so too, Auguste," I replied. "But I wish we knew a little more
about him. His character and principles, I mean."

Auguste looked at me for a moment, in great surprise. "What an
exceedingly matter-of-fact girl you are, Valerie; I never knew any one
in the least like you. Do you know I am afraid you are a little--" and
he paused a moment, as if he hardly knew how to proceed.

"A little hard and cold, is it not, dear Auguste?" said I, throwing my
arms about him. "No, no, indeed I am not; but I have been cast so long
on my own sole resources, and obliged to rely only on my own energy and
clear-sightedness, that I always try to look at both sides of the
question, and not to let my feelings overpower me, until I have proved
that it is good and wise to do so. Consider, too, Auguste, that on this
step depends the whole happiness or misery of a girl's existence."

"You are right, Valerie, and I am wrong. But tell me, do you love him?"

"I do, Auguste. I like him better than any man I have ever seen. He is
the only man of whom I could think as a husband--and I have for some
time past been fearful of liking him--loving him, too much, not knowing,
though I did believe and hope, that he reciprocated my feelings. And
now, if I knew but a little more of his principles and character, I
would not hesitate."

"Then you need not hesitate, dearest Valerie; for, as if to obviate this
objection, he showed me, in the most delicate manner, private letters
from his oldest and most intimate friends, and especially from Mr --, a
most respectable clergyman, who lives at Hendon, by whom he was
educated, and with whom he has maintained constant intercourse and
correspondence ever since. This alone speaks very highly in his favour,
and the terms in which he writes to his pupil, are such as prove them
both to be men of the highest character for worth, integrity, and
virtue. He has proposed, moreover, that I should ride down with him
to-morrow to Hendon, to visit Mr --, and to hear from his own lips yet
more of his character and conduct, that is to say, if I can give him any
hopes of ultimate success."

"Well, Auguste," I replied, "I think with you, that all this speaks very
highly in favour of your fri