s very difficult, Mr. Woodward," she replied, "to know the heart;
I request, however, a direct and a serious answer, for I can assure you
that I am about to place the deepest possible confidence in your faith
and honor."

"O," he exclaimed, "that is sufficient; in such a case I feel bound to
respect your confidence as sacred; do not hesitate to confide in me. Let
me perish a thousand times sooner than abuse such a trust. Speak out,
Miss Goodwin."

"It is necessary that I should," she replied, "both for your sake and my
own. Know, then, that my heart is not at my own disposal; it is engaged
to another."

"I can only listen, Miss Goodwin--I can only listen--but--but--excuse
me--proceed."

"My heart, as I said, is engaged to another--and that other is your
brother Charles."

Woodward fixed his eyes upon her face--already scarlet with blushes, and
when she ventured to raise hers upon him, she beheld a countenance sunk
apparently in the deepest sorrow.

"Alas! Miss Goodwin," he replied, "you have filled my heart with a
double grief. I could resign you--of course it would and must be with
the most inexpressible anguish--but to resign you to such a--. O!"
he proceeded, shaking his head sorrowfully, "you know not in what a
position of torture you place me. You said you believed me to be a
gentleman; so I trust--I feel--I am, and what is more, a brother, and
an affectionate brother, if I--O, my God, what am I to do? How, knowing
what I know of that unfortunate young man, could I ever have expected
this? In the meantime I thank you for your confidence, Miss Goodwin; I
hope it was God himself who inspired you to place it in me, and that
it may be the means of your salvation from--but perhaps I am saying
too much; he is my brother; excuse me, I am not just now cool and calm
enough to say what I would wish, and what you, poor child, neither know
nor suspect, and perhaps I shall never mention it; but you must give me
time. Of course, under the circumstances you have mentioned, I resign
all hopes of my own happiness with you; but, so help me Heaven, if I
shall resign all hopes of yours. I cannot now speak at further length;
I am too much surprised, too much agitated, too much shocked at what I
have heard; but I shall see you, if you will allow me, to-morrow; and as
I cannot become your husband, perhaps I may become your guardian angel.
Allow me to see you to-morrow. You have taken me so completely by
surprise that I. am quite