immediately decide till she
could better understand his character and prospects, so no formal
engagement resulted.

In December, Lincoln went to his legislative duties at Vandalia, and in
the following April took up his permanent abode in Springfield. Such a
separation was not favorable to rapid courtship, yet they had occasional
interviews and exchanged occasional letters. None of hers to him have
been preserved, and only three of his to her. From these it appears that
they sometimes discussed their affair in a cold, hypothetical way, even
down to problems of housekeeping, in the light of mere worldly prudence,
much as if they were guardians arranging a _mariage de convenance_,
rather than impulsive and ardent lovers wandering in Arcady. Without
Miss Owens's letters it is impossible to know what she may have said to
him, but in May, 1837, Lincoln wrote to her:

"I am often thinking of what we said about your coming to live at
Springfield. I am afraid you would not be satisfied. There is a great
deal of flourishing about in carriages here, which it would be your
doom to see without sharing it. You would have to be poor, without the
means of hiding your poverty. Do you believe you could bear that
patiently? Whatever woman may cast her lot with mine, should any ever do
so, it is my intention to do all in my power to make her happy and
contented; and there is nothing I can imagine that would make me more
unhappy than to fail in the effort. I know I should be much happier with
you than the way I am, provided I saw no signs of discontent in you.
What you have said to me may have been in the way of jest, or I may have
misunderstood it. If so, then let it be forgotten; if otherwise, I much
wish you would think seriously before you decide. What I have said I
will most positively abide by, provided you wish it. My opinion is that
you had better not do it. You have not been accustomed to hardship, and
it may be more severe than you now imagine. I know you are capable of
thinking correctly on any subject, and if you deliberate maturely upon
this before you decide, then I am willing to abide your decision."

Whether, after receiving this, she wrote him the "good long letter" he
asked for in the same epistle is not known. Apparently they did not meet
again until August, and the interview must have been marked by reserve
and coolness on both sides, which left each more uncertain than before;
for on the same day Lincoln again wrote