fit of five or eight years
more, unless previously excited by another."

"All this is strange, Arthur. I have heretofore supposed that you
actually loved (I mean with the _marriage-seeking_ passion) your
_Bess_."

"I believe I once did; but it happened at a time when marriage was
improper; in the life of her father and sister, and when I had never
known in what female excellence consisted. Since that time my happier
lot has cast me among women so far above Eliza Hadwin,--so far above,
and so widely different from any thing which time is likely to make
her,--that, I own, nothing appears more unlikely than that I shall ever
love her."

"Are you not a little capricious in that respect, my good friend? You
have praised your _Bess_ as rich in natural endowments; as having an
artless purity and rectitude of mind, which somewhat supersedes the use
of formal education; as being full of sweetness and tenderness, and in
her person a very angel of loveliness."

"All that is true. I never saw features and shape so delicately
beautiful; I never knew so young a mind so quick-sighted and so firm;
but, nevertheless, she is not the creature whom I would call my _wife_.
My bosom-slave; counsellor; friend; the mother; the pattern; the
tutoress of my children, must be a different creature."

"But what are the attributes of this _desirable_ which Bess wants?"

"Every thing she wants. Age, capacity, acquirements, person, features,
hair, complexion, all, all are different from this girl's."

"And pray of what kind may they be?"

"I cannot portray them in words--but yes, I can:--The creature whom I
shall worship:--it sounds oddly, but, I verily believe, the sentiment
which I shall feel for my wife will be more akin to worship than any
thing else. I shall never love but such a creature as I now image to
myself, and _such_ a creature will deserve, or almost deserve, worship.
But this creature, I was going to say, must be the exact counterpart, my
good mamma--of _yourself_."

This was said very earnestly, and with eyes and manner that fully
expressed my earnestness; perhaps my expressions were unwittingly strong
and emphatic, for she started and blushed, but the cause of her
discomposure, whatever it was, was quickly removed, and she said,--

"Poor Bess! This will be sad news to thee!"

"Heaven forbid!" said I; "of what moment can my opinions be to her?"

"Strange questioner that thou art. Thou knowest that her gentle heart is
touc