oked, withered,
dried up with chagrin, remorse, despair, from which I have not a
moment's respite, day or night. I have always some horrid dream about
her, and wake wondering what is the matter that "she is no longer the
same to me as ever?" I thought at least we should always remain dear
friends, if nothing more--did she not talk of coming to live with me
only the day before I left her in the winter? But "she's gone, I am
abused, and my revenge must be to LOVE her!"--Yet she knows that one
line, one word would save me, the cruel, heartless destroyer! I see
nothing for it but madness, unless Friday brings a change, or unless she
is willing to let me go back. You must know I wrote to her to that
purpose, but it was a very quiet, sober letter, begging pardon, and
professing reform for the future, and all that. What effect it will
have, I know not. I was forced to get out of the way of her answer,
till Friday came.

Ever yours.

TO S. L.

My dear Miss L----, EVIL TO THEM THAT EVIL THINK, is an old saying;
and I have found it a true one. I have ruined myself by my unjust
suspicions of you. Your sweet friendship was the balm of my life; and I
have lost it, I fear for ever, by one fault and folly after another.
What would I give to be restored to the place in your esteem, which, you
assured me, I held only a few months ago! Yet I was not contented, but
did all I could to torment myself and harass you by endless doubts and
jealousy. Can you not forget and forgive the past, and judge of me by
my conduct in future? Can you not take all my follies in the lump, and
say like a good, generous girl, "Well, I'll think no more of them?" In
a word, may I come back, and try to behave better? A line to say so
would be an additional favour to so many already received by

Your obliged friend,

And sincere well-wisher.

LETTER XII.

TO C. P----

I have no answer from her. I'm mad. I wish you to call on M---- in
confidence, to say I intend to make her an offer of my hand, and that I
will write to her father to that effect the instant I am free, and ask
him whether he thinks it will be to any purpose, and what he would
advise me to do.

UNALTERED LOVE

"Love is not love that alteration finds: Oh no! it is an ever-fixed
mark, That looks on tempests and is never shaken."

Shall I not love her for herself alone, in spite of fickleness and
folly? To love her for her regard to me, is not to