an antipathies of religious and political
faction; she, herself, has felt so often the contumelies of the rich,
the high-born, and the bigoted, that----"

"Pr'ythee, then, what dost imagine her objections to be?"

"Why--I don't know. The thought was so aspiring; to call her _my wife_
was a height of bliss the very far-off view of which made my head
dizzy."

"A height, however, to attain which you suppose only her consent, her
love, to be necessary?"

"Without doubt, her love is indispensable."

"Sit down, Arthur, and let us no longer treat this matter lightly. I
clearly see the importance of this moment to this lady's happiness and
yours. It is plain that you love this woman. How could you help it? A
brilliant skin is not hers; nor elegant proportions; nor majestic
stature: yet no creature had ever more power to bewitch. Her manners
have grace and dignity that flow from exquisite feelings, delicate
taste, and the quickest and keenest penetration. She has the wisdom of
men and of books. Her sympathies are enforced by reason, and her
charities regulated by knowledge. She has a woman's age, fortune more
than you wish, and a spotless fame. How could you fail to love her?

"_You_, who are her chosen friend, who partake her pleasures and share
her employments, on whom she almost exclusively bestows her society and
confidence, and to whom she thus affords the strongest of all indirect
proofs of impassioned esteem,--how could you, with all that firmness of
love, joined with all that discernment of her excellence, how could you
escape the enchantment?

"You have not thought of marriage. You have not suspected your love.
From the purity of your mind, from the idolatry with which this woman
has inspired you, you have imagined no delight beyond that of enjoying
her society as you now do, and have never fostered a hope beyond this
privilege.

"How quickly would this tranquillity vanish, and the true state of your
heart be evinced, if a rival should enter the scene and be entertained
with preference! then would the seal be removed, the spell be broken,
and you would awaken to terror and to anguish.

"Of this, however, there is no danger. Your passion is not felt by you
alone. From her treatment of you, your diffidence disables you from
seeing, but nothing can be clearer to me than that she loves you."

I started on my feet. A flush of scorching heat flowed to every part of
my frame. My temples began to throb like my heart