g at
his own reason.

"He is as the Lord made him," replied I, in a tone of affected
humility.

"But the Lord did not make you to dance with him and lavish so much
attention upon him; you will oblige me very much, Clara, by not
dancing any more with him and making yourself so ridiculous."

Now there was not very much in those words to take offence at, and I
should, like a submissive woman that was about to be a wife, have
promised obedience, but, unfortunately, being a daughter of Eve I
inherited somewhat of her pride and vanity. In a different tone of
voice Edgar might have said even those words without offending either
pride or vanity, but his voice was cold, and his eyes were colder, and
I, driving my heart away from my lips and eyes, replied--"I trust Mr.
Elliott does not flatter himself he has _yet_ the entire control of my
actions."

"Just as you please."

The reel was finished, and he was off. I repented as soon as the words
passed my lips--the first angry words I had spoken to him. But then,
thought I, sitting down on a bench by myself, why is he so foolishly
provoking and unreasonably jealous of my poor cousin. He to be so
unkind, he who had ever been the noblest and most loving of sons, the
kindest and truest of brothers. For a moment my heart misgave me at
the thought of becoming his for life, it was only a moment. I saw
through the dim vista of years a vision of peace and love.

Cousin Jehoiakim came and sat down beside me. "Ah! Cousin Clarry,"
said he, abruptly taking my hand and holding it, "you are good and
kind to me, how happy I shall be when you are my own little wife, when
the time comes to give you my hand as I already have my heart."

Cousin Jehoiakim sentimental! I looked up--Edgar's cold blue eyes were
fastened upon me. I hastily drew my hand from my cousin, and sprung
toward the glooming Edgar.

"Is it not near time to go, dear Edgar?" exclaimed I, grasping his
hand in my own.

"Mr. Johnson can see you home. I have engaged to go with a friend of
mine back to Boston."

"Edgar!"--but he was gone.

You may depend I did _not_ ride home with _Mr. Johnson_, but begged a
seat with my sister, leaving my cousin the "pung" with the gig-top all
to himself. Whether he encountered any more stumps or pit-falls I
cannot say. He and the pung came safely home, as did the rest of us.

"Mother," exclaimed I, "I do wish you would contrive some means to get
rid of my odious Cousin Jehoiakim, he is th