observance of his duty; the more regretted his loss, and the
more anxiously prayed for his return--a return which he, in the following
letter, written just before his departure, taught her to hope for with
augmented impatience.

"MY DEAR REBECCA,

"I do not tell you I am sorry to part from you--you know I am--and you
know all I have suffered since your father denied me permission to see
you.

"But perhaps you do not know the hopes I enjoy, and which bestow on me
a degree of peace; and those I am eager to tell you.

"I hope, Rebecca, to see you again; I hope to return to England, and
overcome every obstacle to our marriage; and then, in whatever station
we are placed, I shall consider myself as happy as it is possible to
be in this world. I feel a conviction that you would be happy also.

"Some persons, I know, estimate happiness by fine houses, gardens, and
parks; others by pictures, horses, money, and various things wholly
remote from their own species; but when I wish to ascertain the real
felicity of any rational man, I always inquire _whom he has to love_.
If I find he has nobody, or does not love those he has, even in the
midst of all his profusion of finery and grandeur, I pronounce him a
being in deep adversity. In loving you, I am happier than my cousin
William; even though I am obliged to leave you for a time.

"Do not be afraid you should grow old before I return; age can never
alter you in my regard. It is your gentle nature, your unaffected
manners, your easy cheerfulness, your clear understanding, the
sincerity of all your words and actions which have gained my heart;
and while you preserve charms like these, you will be dearer to me
with white hairs and a wrinkled face than any of your sex, who, not
possessing all these qualities, possess the form and features of
perfect beauty.

"You will esteem me, too, I trust, though I should return on crutches
with my poor father, whom I may be obliged to maintain by daily
labour.

"I shall employ all my time, during my absence, in the study of some
art which may enable me to support you both, provided Heaven will
bestow two such blessings on me. In the cheering thought that it will
be so, and in that only, I have the courage, my dear, dear Rebecca, to
say to you

"Farewell! H. NORWYNNE."

CHAPTER XXXIII.

Before Henry could receive a rep