that you have now given me.
You cannot give me your heart now; love cannot, at a moment, be
transferred. But think, Fanny, think whether it is not better for
you to accept an offer which your friends will all approve, and which
I trust will never make you unhappy, than to give yourself up to a
lasting regret,--to tears, misery, and grief."

"And would you take my hand without my heart?" said she.

"Not for worlds," replied the other, "were I not certain that your
heart would follow your hand. Whoever may be your husband, you will
love him. But ask my mother, talk to her, ask her advice; she at any
rate will only tell you that which must be best for your own happiness.
Go to her, Fanny; if her advice be different from mine, I will not say
a word farther to urge my suit."

"I will go to no one," said Fanny, rising. "I have gone to too many
with a piteous story on my lips. I have no friend, now, in this house.
I had still hoped to find one in you, but that hope is over. I am, of
course, proud of the honour your declaration has conveyed; but I should
be wicked indeed if I did not make you perfectly understand that it
is one which I cannot accept. Whatever may be your views, your ideas,
I will never marry unless I thoroughly love, and feel that I am
thoroughly loved by my future husband. Had you not made this ill-timed
declaration--had you not even persisted in repeating it after I had
opened my whole heart to you, I could have loved and cherished you as
a brother; under no circumstances could I ever have accepted you as a
husband. Good morning." And she left him alone, feeling that he could
have but little chance of success, should he again renew the attempt.

He did not see her again till dinner-time, when she appeared silent
and reserved, but still collected and at her ease; nor did he speak to
her at dinner or during the evening, till the moment the ladies were
retiring for the night. He then came up to her as she was standing
alone turning over some things on a side-table, and said, "Fanny, I
probably leave Grey Abbey to-morrow. I will say good bye to you
tonight."

"Good bye, Adolphus; may we both be happier when next we meet," said
she.

"My happiness, I fear, is doubtful: but I will not speak of that now.
If I can do anything for yours before I go, I will. Fanny, I will ask
my father to invite Lord Ballindine here. He has been anxious that we
should be married: when I tell him that that is impossible, he may