a peer of the realm, who enjoyed all the
acknowledged advantages of youth, riches, birth, rank, and a good name,
and who had selected her from a deep conviction of her worth, and of
her ability to make any sensible man happy. As to my own power over
the heart of Anna I never entertained a doubt. She had betrayed it in a
thousand ways and on a hundred occasions; nor had I been at all backward
in letting her understand how highly I valued her dear self, although I
had never yet screwed up my resolution so high as distinctly to propose
for her hand. But all my unsettled purposes became concentrated on
hearing this welcome intelligence; and, taking an abrupt leave of my old
acquaintance, I hurried home and wrote the following letter:

Dear--very dear, nay--dearest ANNA:

"I met your old neighbor--this morning on the boulevards, and during an
interview of an hour we did little else but talk of thee. Although it
has been my most ardent and most predominant wish to open my heart to
the whole species, yet, Anna, I fear I have loved thee alone! Absence,
so far from expanding, appears to contract my affections, too many
of which centre in thy sweet form and excellent virtues. The remedy I
proposed is insufficient, and I begin to think that matrimony alone can
leave me master of sufficient freedom of thought and action to turn the
attention I ought to the rest of the human race. Thou hast been with me
in idea in the four corners of the earth, by sea and by land, in dangers
and in safety, in all seasons, regions, and situations, and there is no
sufficient reason why those who are ever present in the spirit should be
materially separated. Thou hast only to say a word, to whisper a hope,
to breathe a wish, and I will throw myself a repentant truant at thy
feet and implore thy pity. When united, however, we will not lose
ourselves in the sordid and narrow paths of selfishness, but come forth
again in company to acquire a new and still more powerful hold on this
beautiful creation, of which, by this act, I acknowledge thee to be the
most divine portion.

"Dearest, dearest Anna, thine and the species',

"Forever,

"JOHN GOLDENCALF.

"TO MISS ETHERINGTON."

If there was ever a happy fellow on earth it was myself when this letter
was written, sealed, and fairly despatched. The die was cast, and I
walked into the air a regenerated and an elastic being! Let what might
happen, I was sure of Anna. Her gentleness would calm my irritab