general company to be so good-humoured. With people that
are indifferent to him, no man is less exacting; but with
those near to him in life he never bends, not an inch.
It is this that has estranged his uncle from him. But
yet how noble, how grand a man he is! To all pecuniary
considerations he is absolutely indifferent. A falsehood,
even a concealment, is impossible with him. Who that
either of us knows is equal to or approaches him in
talent? He is brave, generous, simple-hearted beyond all
that I have ever known. Who is like him? And yet--. To
you, once for all, I say all this. But, Adela, do not take
advantage of me. You ought to know that were it not all
over, I should not say it.

I wish that you had been betrothed to him. Oh, how I wish
it! You are not worldly, as I am; not stubborn, nor proud
of heart. Not that you have not pride, a truer, better
pride. You could have brought yourself to submit, to be
guided, to be a secondary portion of himself--and then how
he would have loved you!

I have often wondered that he should have thought of me.
No two persons were ever less suited for each other. I
knew that when I accepted him, foolishly accepted him
because I liked him, and now I am rightly punished. But,
ah! that he should be punished too! for he is punished.
I know he loves me; though I know nothing would now
induce him to take me. And I know this also, that
nothing--nothing--nothing would induce me to be so taken.
Not if he were begging--as he never will beg to any woman.
I would be too true to him, too true to what I now know to
be his happiness.

As for me, I dare say I shall marry yet. I have some
little money, and that sort of manner which many men
think most becoming for the top of their tables and the
management of their drawing-rooms. If I do, there shall be
no deceit. I certainly shall not marry for love. Indeed,
from early years I never thought it possible that I should
do so. I have floundered unawares into the pitfall, and
now I must flounder out. I have always thought that there
was much in the world well worth the living for besides
love. Ambition needs not be a closed book for women,
unless they choose to close it. I do not see but that a
statesman's wife may stand nearly as high in the world as
the statesman stands himself. Money, position, rank are
worth th