ther. My servant I shall dispose
of, and the rest I can depend on."

"But--"

"I detest buts; if I had to make a language, I would not admit such a
word in it. And now, before I run on about Catherine, a subject quite
inexhaustible, tell me, my dear friend, something about yourself."

.......

Somewhat more than a month had elapsed since the arrival of the stranger
at the village inn. He had changed his quarters for the Parsonage--went
out but little, and then chiefly on foot excursions among the
sequestered hills in the neighbourhood. He was therefore but partially
known by sight, even in the village; and the visit of some old college
friend to the minister, though indeed it had never chanced before,
was not, in itself, so remarkable an event as to excite any particular
observation. The bans had been duly, and half audibly, hurried over,
after the service was concluded, and while the scanty congregation were
dispersing down the little aisle of the church,--when one morning a
chaise and pair arrived at the Parsonage. A servant out of livery leaped
from the box. The stranger opened the door of the chaise, and, uttering
a joyous exclamation, gave his arm to a lady, who, trembling and
agitated, could scarcely, even with that stalwart support, descend the
steps. "Ah!" she said, in a voice choked with tears, when they found
themselves alone in the little parlour,--"ah! if you knew how I have
suffered!"

How is it that certain words, and those the homeliest, which the hand
writes and the eye reads as trite and commonplace expressions--when
spoken convey so much,--so many meanings complicated and refined? "Ah!
if you knew how I have suffered!"

When the lover heard these words, his gay countenance fell; he drew
back--his conscience smote him: in that complaint was the whole history
of a clandestine love, not for both the parties, but for the woman--the
painful secrecy--the remorseful deceit--the shame--the fear--the
sacrifice. She who uttered those words was scarcely sixteen. It is an
early age to leave Childhood behind for ever!

"My own love! you have suffered, indeed; but it is over now.

"Over! And what will they say of me--what will they think of me at home?
Over! Ah!"

"It is but for a short time; in the course of nature my uncle cannot
live long: all then will be explained. Our marriage once made public,
all connected with you will be proud to own you. You will have wealth,
station--a name among the