ssimilated by strong attachment and
rare outward circumstances, if suddenly thrown together, should at once
mingle and flow harmoniously on. It takes time, and the influence of
perfect love, to melt and fuse the two currents into one beautiful
whole. Perhaps, did all young lovers believe and prepare for this, there
would be fewer disappointed and unhappy marriages.

Though sitting at the open window, with the sharp sea-breeze blowing
in upon her--it happened to be a sunless and gloomy day--Agatha had
answered that she was "quite warm." Nevertheless her heart felt cold.
Not positively sad, yet void. A great deal of passionate devotion is
necessary to make two active human beings content with one another's
sole company for eight entire days, having nothing to occupy them but
each other.

Wanting this--yet scarcely conscious of her need--the young wife sat, in
her secret soul all shivering and a-cold. At last, wearied with the long
grey sweep of undulating sea, she closed the window.

"I thought the breeze would be too keen for you," said Mr. Harper, whom
her lightest movement always seemed to attract.

"Oh no; but I am tired of watching the waves. How melancholy it must be
to live here. I have a perfect terror of the sea."

"Had I known that, I would not have proposed our coming to-day from
Leamington to Brighton. But we can leave to-morrow."

"I did not mean that," she answered quickly, dreading lest her husband
might have thought her speech ungracious or unkind. "We need not
go--unless you wish it."

The bridegroom made no immediate reply: but there was a melancholy
tenderness in his eyes, as, without her knowing it, he sat watching his
young wife. At length he rose, and putting her arm in his, stood a long
time with her at the window.

"I think, dear Agatha, that you are right. The sea is always sad. How
dreary it looks now--like a wide-stretched monotonous life whose ending
we see not, yet it must be crossed. How shall we cross it?"

Agatha looked inquiringly.

"The sea I mean," he continued, with a sudden change of tone. "Shall we
go over to France for a week or two?"

"Oh no"--and she shuddered. "It would kill me to cross the water."

He looked surprised at her unaccountable repugnance, which she had
scarcely expressed than she seemed overpowered by confusion. Her husband
forbore to question her further; but the next day told her that he had
arranged for their quitting Brighton and making a tour throug