he was in knowing that he had placed his
affections on HER, and how much more miserable she should be, had she
learned he had NOT, Mademoiselle Hennequin almost annihilated the young
man by declaring that it was utterly impossible for her to consent to
become his wife. The reason was the difference in fortune, and the
impossibility that she should take advantage of his passion to lead him
into a connection that he might afterwards regret. Against this
decision, Betts reasoned warmly, but seriously, in vain. Had
Mademoiselle Hennequin been an American, instead of a French, girl, her
feelings would not have been so sensitive on this point, for, in this
great republic, every body but the fortune-hunters, an exceedingly
contemptible class, considers a match without money, quite as much a
matter of course, as a match with. But, the governess had been educated
under a different system, and it struck her imagination as very proper,
that she should make both herself and her lover miserable, because he
had two hundred thousand dollars, and she had not as many hundreds. All
this strangely conflicted with Betts' preconceived opinion of a French
woman's selfishness, and, while he was disposed to believe his adored
perfection, he almost feared it was a trick. Of such contradictory
materials is the human mind composed!

At length the eyes of Betts fell on me, who was still in the hand of
Mademoiselle Hennequin, and had several times been applied to her eyes
unheeded. It was evident I revived unpleasant recollections, and the
young man could not avoid letting an expression escape him, that
sufficiently betrayed his feelings.

"This handkerchief!" exclaimed the young governess--"Ah! it is that of
Mademoiselle Julie, which I must have taken by mistake. But, why should
this handkerchief awaken any feeling in you, monsieur? You are not
about to enact the Moor, in your days of wooing?"

{the Moor = from Shakespeare's "Othello"}

This was said sweetly, and withal a little archly, for the poor girl
was glad to turn the conversation from its harassing and painful
points; but Betts was in no humor for pleasantry, and he spoke out in a
way to give his mistress some clue to his thoughts.

"That cursed handkerchief"--it is really indecent in young men to use
such improper language, but they little heed what they say when
strongly excited--"that cursed handkerchief has given me as much pain,
as it appears also to have given you. I wish I knew