f awkwardness. Feeling that it was easier to induce _her_ to break the
ice than to take the first step upon this delicate ground himself, he
remarked, "You wanted to speak to me; what did you desire to say, my
dear little cousin?"

Bertha looked up innocently into his face, as though she was scanning
his features for the first time.

"What my aunt says is all very true. You _are_ exceedingly handsome; I
never denied it, except in jest; and you _are_ decidedly agreeable,
except now and then; and you _have_ a noble heart,--I never doubted it;
and a fine intellect,--though I do not know much about _that_; and any
woman might be proud of you,--that is, I dare say most women would."

"And I have a little cousin who is an adroit flatterer, and who is
herself beautiful enough for a Hebe, and whose fascinations are
sufficiently potent to captivate any reasonable or unreasonable man."

"Oh! but that is not to the point. I did not mean that we should
exchange compliments. What I want to say is that such an attractive and
agreeable young man as you are will naturally find hosts of young girls,
who would any of them be proud to be chosen as his wife."

"And you, with your grace and beauty, your lovable character, and your
large fortune, will have suitors innumerable, from among whom you may
readily select one who will be worthy of you."

"But that is not to the point either! I told my aunt that I was not
insensible to all your claims to admiration. I assure you I did you
ample justice!"

"You were very kind and complimentary, little cousin; but I said as much
of you to my father. I gave him to understand that I acknowledged you to
be one of the most charming beings in the world, and that I thought the
man to whom you gave your hand would be the happiest of mortals, and
that I did not believe _that man_ could value you more as a wife than I
should as a sister."

"_A sister! A sister!_ Oh! I am so glad!--a _sister_? You do not really
love me, then?"

"Have I said that?"

"You have said the same thing, and I am overjoyed! I can never thank you
half enough!"

"_You_ do not love _me_ then?" asked Maurice.

"I love you with all my heart! I never loved you half as well as at this
moment!--that is as--as--a _brother_; for you love me as a _sister_,
while my aunt declared you hoped to make me your wife,--that you were
crazily in love with me, and that if I refused you, I should ruin all
your future prospects, for the blow wou