eless now to deny her gifts and graces. They are, reluctantly I
confess, so rare and so conspicuous--have so many times been seen, and
known, and praised by us all,--that it would put me in the most foolish
of attitudes should I attempt to reconsider a verdict so frequently
pronounced, or to eat my own words, uttered a thousand times.

"It is also, I presume, useless to deny that we were well pleased--nay,
delighted--with Willie's evident sentiment for her. Indeed, so
thoroughly did she charm me, that, had I not seen how absolutely his
heart was enlisted in her pursuit, she is the very girl whom I should
have selected, could I have so done, as a wife for Tom and a daughter
for myself.

"I knew full well how deep was this feeling for her when he marched
away, on that day so full of supreme splendor and pain, unable to see
her and to say adieu. His eyes, his face, his manner, his very voice,
marked his restlessness, his longing, and disappointment. I was
positively angry with the girl for thwarting and hurting him so, and,
whatever her excuse might be, for her absence at such a time. How
constantly are we quarrelling with our best fates!

"She remained in New York, as you know, for some weeks after the 19th;
in fact, has been at home but for a little while. Once or twice, so
provoked with her was I for disappointing our pet, I could not resist
the temptation of saying some words about him which, if she cared for
him, I knew would wound her: and, indeed, they did,--wounded her so
deeply, as was manifest in her manner and her face, that I had not the
heart to repeat the experiment.

"One week ago I had a letter from Willie, enclosing another to her, and
an entreaty, as he had written one which he was sure had miscarried,
that I would see that this reached her hands in safety. So anxious was I
to fulfil his request in its word and its spirit, and so certain that I
could further his cause,--for I was sure this letter was a
love-letter,--that I did not forward it by post, but, being compelled
to come to Burlington, I determined to go on to Philadelphia, drive out
to her home, and myself deliver the missive into her very hands. A most
fortunate conclusion, as you will presently decide.

"Last evening I reached the city,--rested, slept here,--and this morning
was driven to her father's place. For all our sakes, I was somewhat
anxious, under the circumstances, that this should be quite the thing;
and I confess myself, on the