d,
substantial conversation, something to which hitherto she had been an
entire stranger. In her intercourse with Edward, the world had been
utterly forgotten; in the presence of the Count, the world appeared
first worth regarding. The attraction was mutual. The Count conceived a
liking for Ottilie; he would have been glad to have had her for a
daughter. Thus a second time, and worse than the first time, she was in
the way of the Baroness. Who knows what, in times when passions ran
hotter than they do now-a-days, this lady might not have devised against
her? As things were, it was enough if she could get her married, and
render her more innocuous for the future to the peace of mind of married
women. She therefore artfully urged the Assistant, in a delicate, but
effective manner, to set out on a little excursion to the castle; where
his plans and his wishes, of which he made no secret to the lady, he
might forthwith take steps to realize.

With the fullest consent of the Superior he started off on his
expedition, and in his heart he nourished good hopes of success. He knew
that Ottilie was not ill-disposed toward him; and although it was true
there was some disproportion of rank between them, yet distinctions of
this kind were fast disappearing in the temper of the time. Moreover,
the Baroness had made him perceive clearly that Ottilie must always
remain a poor, portionless maiden. To be related to a wealthy family, it
was said, could be of service to nobody. For even with the largest
property, men have a feeling that it is not right to deprive of any
considerable sum, those who, as standing in a nearer degree of
relationship, appear to have a fuller right to possession; and really
it is a strange thing, that the immense privilege which a man has of
disposing of his property after his death, he so very seldom uses for
the benefit of those whom he loves, only out of regard to established
usage appearing to consider those who would inherit his estate from him,
supposing he made no will at all.

Thus, while on his journey, he grew to feel himself entirely on a level
with Ottilie. A favorable reception raised his hopes. He found Ottilie
indeed not altogether so open with him as usual, but she was
considerably matured, more developed, and, if you please, generally more
conversible than he had known her. She was ready to give him the fullest
insight into many things which were in any way connected with his
profession; but wh