She could
have screamed aloud with joy, that at last she would be united to her
lover, wholly, sacredly as his own; and yet she was filled with deep
grief that the path to the altar would not be hallowed by her father's
blessing. Even love, which spoke so loudly and powerfully in her
heart, could not silence the warning voice of conscience--that voice
which again and again threatened her with sin and sorrow, disgrace and
shame. Yet Elise, in the warmth and passion of her heart, sought to
excuse herself, and in the pride of her wounded filial love said to
herself: "My father does not regard me; he will not weep for my loss,
for I am superfluous here, and he will hardly perceive that I am gone.
He has his millions and his friends, and the whole multitude of those
to whom he does good. He is so rich--he has much on which his heart
hangs! But I am quite poor; I have nothing but the heart of my
beloved. His love is my only possession. Would it not be wicked in me
to cast this away, and lead here a lonesome, desolate life, without
pity or sympathy? If my father loved me, would he have left me during
these days so full of danger? After the terrible scene in which I,
in the desperation of my heart, offended him, he would at least have
given me some opportunity of asking his pardon, of begging him for
forbearance and pity. But he seems purposely to have secluded himself,
and avoided any meeting with me. He has shut me out from his heart,
and withdrawn his love from me forever. And so I am forced to carry
my heart full of boundless affection over to my lover. He will never
repulse, neglect, or forget me; he will adore me, and I will be his
most cherished possession."

As these thoughts passed through her mind, she pressed his note to
her lips, each word seeming to greet her, and with Feodor's imploring
looks to entreat her to fulfil the vow she had made him. There was
no longer any hesitation or wavering in her, for she had come to a
determined resolution, and with glowing cheeks and panting breast she
hastened to the writing-table, in order to clothe it in words, and
answer Feodor's note.

"You remind me of my pledged word," she wrote. "I am ready to redeem
it. Come, then, and lead me from my father's house to the altar, and I
will be your wife; and wherever you go I will be with you. Hence-forth
I will have no other home than your heart. But while I cheerfully
elect this home, at the same time I am shutting myself out from m