and furnish a perpetual source of pleasure and
delight. "And can we," said Alida, "who are conscious of deriving our
existence from a Being of such infinite goodness and power, properly
entertain other prospects than those of happiness, when we experience so
many blessings daily, to excite our thankfulness."

Mr. More expatiated on the pleasure there must be in passing a tranquil
life with a beloved object, turning his insidious eyes towards Alida as
he spoke; he seemed to say, that she was the being, with whom he could
be able to realize all the exalted ideas he entertained of such a life;
and to point out beauties, and furnish amusement, to a refined taste
like hers, would be to him one of the highest pleasures he could
possibly experience. When he declared to her his esteem and affection,
with his native sincerity, he seemed to be convinced, at the same time,
that she was favourably disposed towards him.

On the contrary, she was evidently much embarrassed at this declaration.
She remained silent, and looked upon him with a degree of pity mingled
with regret; then casting down her eyes, she appeared greatly confused.
She could not make any returns in his favour, and the amiable Alida felt
extremely sorry to give pain or uneasiness to the friend and school
companion of an only brother. She had received him with complacency on
that account, which had served to increase his ill-fated partiality. She
felt that she could not give one word of encouragement, yet she did not
wish to drive him to despair.

The band of music now began to play in the garden. They commenced with
the celebrated air of the Star-Spangled Banner, and continued playing
different pieces for the space of several hours.

As soon as the music ceased, they left the garden to return home, and
all the people now apparently thronged out of the gates with as much
avidity as they had entered them some hours before. When they arrived at
the dwelling of Alida, they found that the time had whiled away, and
that the evening had progressed to a late hour.

On his way home the mind of Mr. More was absorbed in the following
reflections. "When I told her my affection, the blush was diffused over
her cheek--and the tear of sensibility started in her eye. She evinced
her regard by silent expressions, which she has shown repeatedly in many
proofs of interested friendship, accompanied by the softness of her
winning manners, and the engaging mildness of her dispositio