se slowly-developing love-affairs
there is usually but one great hindering cause. Do you know," I said,
laughing as much as I dared, looking into his woebegone face, "that
you have not told me what has passed between you?"

His moment or two of death silence made me almost regret my last
words.

"In the first of our acquaintance I was ever tortured by her
indifference. My first attentions were quietly received, never
encouraged. Then came the still more torturing fear--agony let me call
it--lest she was pre-engaged. Thank God! that burden was lifted from
my poor heart, but only, it seemed, to make room for the very one of
all in the catalogue of causes by which a lover's hope dies beyond the
possibility of a resurrection. It is the rock--no, I fear the
placid waters of friendship into which my freighted bark is now
drifting--which may lie between it and the bright isle of love, the
safe harbor" (he shuddered), "not the blissful possession."

Reader, the roses were not growing under my needle: my sympathies were
at last fully enlisted.

"You have well said," I answered. "Friendship is the 'nine notch'
in which a lover makes 'no count' in the game of hearts. But steer
bravely past these dark gulfs of despair. Have you ever had recourse
to jealousy in your desperation?" I queried.

"I scorn such a base ally. Your brother can tell you I am here partly
because I would avoid increasing an affection in another which I
cannot return."

"Does she know of that?" I asked, not at all prepared in my own mind
to yield the potency of the ally in my sincere desire to aid him by
this test of a woman's affection.

"Yes: I have no reason, however, for thinking that the fact has raised
her estimate of the article," he said, making a poor attempt to smile.

I felt ashamed of my suggestion, and said quickly, "You correspond,
of course: how are her letters?" Now I was sure of my safest clue in
finding her out.

"It was through the medium of her letters that I first obtained my
knowledge of her mind, her temperament, her disposition, her admirable
domestic virtues; for they were written without reserve. They excited
my highest admiration; they stimulated my desire to know more of her;
but they contain no word of love for me."

His want of boldness almost excited my contempt. My skill was baffled
on every side, and, not caring much to conceal my impatience, I said,
"You have asked me to advise you as I would my brother. She is cold