r dismiss a
suitor whose youth had as yet achieved nothing, whose own means were
very small, with whom, if he were accepted, her marriage must be
postponed; who, however, was of great talent, who gave such promise
of future distinction? Bertram, when he made his offer, made it from
a full heart; but Caroline was able to turn these matters in her mind
before she answered him.

She will be called cold-hearted, mercenary, and unfeminine. But when
a young girl throws prudence to the winds, and allows herself to love
where there is nothing to live on, what then is she called? It seems
to me that it is sometimes very hard for young girls to be in the
right. They certainly should not be mercenary; they certainly should
not marry paupers; they certainly should not allow themselves to
become old maids. They should not encumber themselves with early,
hopeless loves; nor should they callously resolve to care for nothing
but a good income and a good house. There should be some handbook
of love, to tell young ladies when they may give way to it without
censure. As regards our heroine, however, she probably wanted no such
handbook. "Now I will take any answer you will give me." Bertram,
when he had said that, remained silent, awaiting her reply.

"Mr. Bertram," she said at last, "I think that you have spoken
unwisely; let us agree to forget it. What you have said has come from
impulse rather than judgment."

"Not so, Miss Waddington. I cannot forget it; nor can you. I would
not have it again unsaid if I could. When I once learned that I loved
you, it became natural to me to tell you so."

"Such quick speaking is not perhaps natural to me. But as you demand
an immediate answer, I must give you one. I have had much pleasure in
your society, but I have never thought of loving you. Nor can I love
you without thinking of it."

It would be hard to say what answer Bertram expected; indeed, he had
no expectations. He had had no idea of making this offer when he
walked up the hill with her. His heart was then turned rather to
worship at that other shrine: it had been her own words, her own
eloquence in favour of the world's greatness, that had drawn him on.
He had previously filled his mind with no expectation; but he had
felt an intense desire for success when once he had committed himself
to his offer.

And now, as he walked down beside her, he hardly knew what to make
of her answer. A man, if he be not absolutely rejected, is gener