ch came from a soul so new to life! It enchanted one, painfully
fastidious in what relates to the true nobility of character, that,
however various the themes discussed, no low or mean thought ever
sullied those beautiful lips. It was not the mere innocence of
inexperience, but the moral incapability of guile, that charmed him
in the companion he had chosen on his path to Eternity! He was also
delighted to notice Evelyn's readiness of resources: she had that
faculty, without which woman has no independence from the world, no
pledge that domestic retirement will not soon languish into wearisome
monotony,--the faculty of making trifles contribute to occupation
or amusement; she was easily pleased, and yet she so soon reconciled
herself to disappointment. He felt, and chid his own dulness for not
feeling it before, that, young and surpassingly lovely as she was, she
required no stimulant from the heated pursuits and the hollow admiration
of the crowd.

"Such," thought he, "are the natures that alone can preserve through
years the poetry of the first passionate illusion, that can alone render
wedlock the seal that confirms affection, and not the mocking ceremonial
that vainly consecrates its grave!"

Maltravers, as we have seen, formally wrote to Lumley some days after
their return to Paris. He would have written also to Lady Vargrave, but
Evelyn thought it best to prepare her mother by a letter from herself.

Miss Cameron now wanted but a few weeks to the age of eighteen, at which
she was to be the sole mistress of her own destiny. On arriving at that
age the marriage was to take place. Valerie heard with sincere delight
of the new engagement her friend had formed. She eagerly sought every
opportunity to increase her intimacy with Evelyn, who was completely won
by her graceful kindness; the result of Valerie's examination was, that
she did not wonder at the passionate love of Maltravers, but that her
deep knowledge of the human heart (that knowledge so remarkable in
the women of her country!) made her doubt how far it was adequately
returned, how far Evelyn deceived herself. Her first satisfaction became
mingled with anxiety, and she relied more for the future felicity of
her friend on Evelyn's purity of thought and general tenderness of heart
than on the exclusiveness and ardour of her love. Alas! few at eighteen
are not too young for the irrevocable step,--and Evelyn was younger than
her years! One evening at Madame de