and
laid her head upon my shoulder. When General O'Brien came in, I did not
attempt to move, nor did Celeste.

"General," said I, "you may think me to blame, but I have not been able
to conceal what I feel for Celeste. You may think that I am imprudent,
and that I am wrong in thus divulging what I ought to have concealed,
until I was in a situation to warrant my aspiring to your daughter's
hand; but the short time allowed me to be in her company, the fear of
losing her, and my devoted attachment, will, I trust, plead my excuse."

The general took one or two turns up and down the room, and then
replied--"What says Celeste?"

"Celeste will never do anything to make her father unhappy," replied
she, going up to him and hiding her face in his breast, with her arm
round his neck.

The general kissed his daughter, and then said, "I will be frank with
you, Mr Simple. I do not know any man whom I would prefer to you as a
son-in-law; but there are many considerations which young people are
very apt to forget. I do not interfere in your attachment, which
appears to be mutual; but at the same time, I will have no promise, and
no engagement. You may never meet again. However, Celeste is very
young, and I shall not put any constraint upon her; and at the same time
you are equally free, if time and circumstances should alter your
present feelings."

"I can ask no more, my dear sir," replied I, taking the general by the
hand: "it is candid--more than I had any reason to expect. I shall now
leave you with a contented mind; and the hopes of one day claiming
Celeste shall spur me to exertion."

"Now, if you please we will drop the subject," said the general.
"Celeste, my dear, we have a large party to dinner, as you know. You
had better retire to your room and get ready. I have asked all the
ladies that you liberated, Peter, and all their husbands and fathers, so
you will have the pleasure of witnessing how many people you made happy
by your gallantry. Now that Celeste has left the room, Peter, I must
beg that, as a man of honour, you do not exact from her any more
promises, or induce her to tie herself down to you by oaths. Her
attachment to you has grown up with her unaccountably, and she is
already too fond of you for her peace of mind, should accident or
circumstances part you for ever. Let us hope for the best, and, depend
upon it, that it shall be no trifling obstacle which will hinder me from
seeing you one day