ghest stature;
Thus dost Thou make proud knowledge bend and crouch,
_While grace fills up uneven nature_." [1]

When May had proposed to Mrs. Tabb to live, or, rather, lodge with her,
nothing of its kind could exceed the enthusiastic reception she met.
She poured out a torrent of exclamations and superlatives, which set
all the rules of grammar at defiance. Then she broke out in the
vociferous indignation at "the old miser's meanness," and last, and
more outrageous than all, were her reflections on "upstartish misses,
who drop from the clouds when no one expects them, and get all and
every thing that them ought to had, who had been waiting, and bearing
with people's meanness and ill-humor from their cradels up." And if,
at that moment, she had not tilted her snuff-box, which was filled with
Scotch snuff, over, under May's nose, whereupon both were seized with a
paroxysm of sneezing, which was an effectual interruption to her
tirade, she would have been silenced by a few charitable explanations.

When May returned home, she found Mr. Jerrold waiting in the parlor.
He offered his hand; and there was such an air of sincerity in his
manner, that it dispelled all May's reserve.

"I have brought Helen's love," he said, while he uncovered a
magnificent bouquet, "and these roses and violets. They are the first
of the season."

"These are _very, very_ beautiful and fragrant, and I thank you most
heartily for them. How is Helen?"

"She is looking well, but she falls occasionally into fits of
despondency, which is either the result of much fatigue and
excitement, or some cause which she does not wish to explain. I wish
you would come and live with us. Helen needs a sister," said the young
man.

"Dear Mr. Jerrold," said old-fashioned May, "I have tried to find my
way to Helen's heart, but, to be frank with you, our ways lie too
differently. Helen will have none of my friendship on those terms on
which I alone can give it. But you do not understand it all.--You are
a Protestant, and wish to see Helen one; therefore, _I_ should be a
discord in your house, because, if there, _my duty_ would not allow me
to hold my peace."

"Helen is too young and beautiful to mope about religion," he said,
carelessly. "When she gets older, and is more tied down by domestic
cares, it will be necessary and respectable for her to be religious;
and then, egad, if she wishes it, I'd as lief she'd be a Catholic as
any thing else."