a progressively inward, and more perfect fulfilment
of duties, had acquired an ever-increasing power over her husband, and
thus induced him to accede to it, at the same time that she endeavoured
to infuse into him the hope which she herself cherished, namely, either
that Eva, during the time of probation, would discover the unworthiness
of the Major, and won over by the wishes and the tenderness of her
family, would conquer her love, or, on the other hand, that the Major,
ennobled by love and constant to her, would become worthy of her. It was
one of the most favourite and cherished axioms of the Judge, that every
man had the power of improving himself, and he willingly conceded that
for this end there existed no more powerful means than a virtuous love.

The Judge now talked energetically yet tenderly with his daughter;
explained clearly to her the terms of this connexion, without concealing
from her how bitter to him had been, and still was, the thought of this
union, and appealed to her own sense and reason whether too much had
been required in this prescribed time of trial.

Eva shed many tears; but deeply affected by the goodness of her parents,
consented to their wishes, and promised, though not without pain, to
fulfil them. The Judge wrote to the Major, who had made his declaration
by letter, a candid and noble, but by no means sugared, answer; wherein
he required from him, as a man of honour, that he should by no means
whatever induce Eva to swerve from the promises which she had made to
her parents, and by this means disturb her hitherto so happy connexion
with her own family. This letter, which the father allowed his daughter
to read, and which occasioned her fresh tears, whilst she in vain
endeavoured to persuade him to remove expressions which she considered
too severe, but which he, on the contrary, considered too mild, was
despatched the same day, and all was again quieter.

Probably Eva would strictly have adhered to the wishes of her parents,
which they endeavoured to make pleasant to her by much kindness, had not
a letter from the Major been conveyed to her on the next evening, which
quite excited and unhinged her again. He complained violently therein of
her father's unreasonableness, injustice, and tyranny; and spoke, in the
most passionate terms, of his love, of his unbounded sufferings, and of
his despair. The consequence of this letter was that Eva was ill--but
more so, however, in mind than body