elt that her hope of life
was gone forever. O, how willingly--how joyfully--would I return her
fortune, and if I had ten times as much of my own, along with it, if it
could only bring her back to me again!"

"Well, you know, my darling, that can't be done; but cheer up; I have
good news for you--news that I am sure will delight you."

"But I don't stand in need of any good news, mamma."

This simple reply proved an unexpected capsize to her mother, who knew
not how to proceed; but, in the moment of her embarrassment, looked to
her husband for assistance.

"My dear Alice," said her father, "the fact is this--you have achieved a
conquest, and there has been a proposal of marriage made for you."

Alice instantly suspected the individual from whom the proposal came,
and turned pale as death.

"That does not cheer my spirits, then, papa."

"That may be, my dear Alice," replied her father; "but, in the opinion
of your mother and me, it ought."

"From what quarter has it come, papa, may I ask? I am living very lonely
and retired here, you know."

"The proposal, then, my dear child, has come from Henry Woodward, this
day; and what will surprise you more, through his mother, too--who has
been of late such an inveterate enemy to our family. So far as I have
seen of Henry himself, he is everything I could wish for a son-in-law."

"But you have seen very little of him, papa."

"What I have seen of him has pleased me very much, Alice."

"How strange," said she musingly, "that father and daughter should draw
such different conclusions from the same premises. The very thought of
that young man sinks the heart within me. I beg, once for all, that you
will never mention his name to me on this subject, and in this light,
again. It is not that I hate him--I trust I hate nobody--but I feel an
antipathy against him; and what is more, I feel a kind of terror when I
even think of him; and an oppression, for which I cannot account, whilst
I am in his society."

"This is very strange, Alice," replied her father; "and, I am afraid,
rather foolish, too. There is nothing in his face, person, manner, or
conversation that, in my opinion, is not calculated to attract any young
woman in his own rank of life--at least, I think so."

"Well, but the poor child," said her mother, "knows nothing about
love--how could she? Sure, my dear Alley, true love never begins until
after marriage. You don't know what a dislike I had to your father,
t