entiments as romantic, Mr. Sandford, but if
they are, to me they are nevertheless natural."

"But of what service are they to be either to her, or to yourself?"

"To me they are painful, and to her would be but impertinent, were she
to know them."

"I shan't inform her of them, so do not trouble yourself to caution me
against it."

"I was not going--you know I was not--but I was going to say, that from no
one so well as from you, could she be told my sentiments, without the
danger of receiving offence."

"And what impression do you wish to give her, from her becoming
acquainted with them?"

"The impression, that she has one sincere friend: that upon every
occurrence in life, there is a heart so devoted to all she feels, that
she never can suffer without the sympathy of another: or can ever
command him, and all his fortunes to unite for her welfare, without his
ready, his immediate compliance."

"And do you imagine, that any of your professions, or any of her
necessities, would ever prevail upon her to put you to the trial?"

"Perhaps not."

"What, then, are the motives which induce you to wish her to be told of
this?"

Rushbrook paused.

"Do you think," continued Sandford, "the intelligence will give her any
satisfaction?"

"Perhaps not."

"Will it be of any to yourself?"

"The highest in the world."

"And so all you have been urging upon this occasion, is, at last, only
to please yourself."

"You wrong my meaning--it is her merit which inspires me with the desire
of being known to her--it is her sufferings, her innocence, her beauty----"

Sandford stared--Rushbrook proceeded: "It is her----"

"Nay, stop where you are," cried Sandford; "you are arrived at the
zenith of perfection in a woman, and to add one qualification more,
would be an anti-climax."

"Oh!" cried Rushbrook with warmth, "I loved her, before I ever beheld
her."

"Loved her!" cried Sandford, with astonishment, "You are talking of what
you did not intend."

"I am, indeed:" returned he in confusion, "I fell by accident on the
word love."

"And by the same accident stumbled on the word beauty; and thus by
accident, am I come to the truth of all your professions."

Rushbrook knew that he loved; and though his affection had sprung from
the most laudable motives, yet was he ashamed of it, as of a vice--he
rose, he walked about the room, and he did not look Sandford in the
face for a quarter of an hour: Sandford, satisfied that h