and blood to cleave asunder the ligneous fibres which oppose it,
as the sonorous Johnson would have observed on a similar occasion."

"I was thinking of you, Richard," I answered with resolute frankness.

"Of me!" he exclaimed, while his eyes sparkled with animated pleasure.
"Oh, walk through all the trees of Grandison Place, if you will honor me
with one passing thought."

"You know you have always been like a brother to me, Richard."

"I don't know exactly how a brother feels. You have taken my fraternal
regard for granted, but I am sure I have never professed any."

"Pardon me, if I have believed actions more expressive than words. I
shall never commit a similar error."

With deeply wounded and indignant feelings, I walked rapidly on, without
deigning to look at one so heartless and capricious. Mr. Regulus was
right. He was not a proper companion. I would never allow him to walk
with me again.

"Are you not familiar enough with my light, mocking way, Gabriella?" he
cried, keeping pace with my accelerated steps. "Do not you know me well
enough to understand when I am serious and when jesting? I have never
professed fraternal regard, because I know a brother cannot feel half
the--the interest for you that I do. I thought you knew it,--I dare not
say more,--I cannot say less."

"No, no, do not say any more," said I, shrinking with indefinable dread;
"I do not want any professions. I meant not to call them forth. If I
alluded to you as a brother, it was because I wished to speak to you
with the frankness of a sister. It is better that you should not walk
with me from school,--it is not proper,--people will make remarks."

"Well, let them make them,--who cares?"

"I care, a great deal. I will not be the subject of village gossip."

"Who put this idea in your head, Gabriella? I know it did not originate
there. You are too artless, too unsuspicious. Oh! I know," he added,
with a heightened color and a raised tone, "you have been kept after
school; you have had a lecture on propriety; you cannot deny it."

"I neither deny nor affirm any thing. It makes no difference who
suggested it. My own judgment tells me it is right."

"The old fellow is jealous," said he with a laugh of derision, "but he
cannot control my movements. The road is wide enough for us both, and
the world is wider still."

"How can you say any thing so absurd and ridiculous?" I exclaimed; and
vexed as I was, I could not help laughing at his pr