o reproach the other with. And as to
the solitude you speak of, my heart yearns for it. It is in that
solitude we can the more fully understand and develop the profound
devotion that shall have drawn us into it. I am sick of the world--weary
and tired of it, and longing for the repose which you alone can
consecrate. It will be no sacrifice to abandon the world for you.
Sacrifice, my Astraea? it will be the crowning happiness of my life!"

"And you are confident that you can depend upon the firmness of your
resolution? I do not ask this for my own sake--for I know myself, what I
can suffer and outlive--but for yours."

"I solemnly and finally answer, that no earthly influence can shake my
resolution."

"Then," said Astraea, placing her hand in mine, and in a grave voice,
laden with emotion, "I am yours forever. Henceforth, I owe no allegiance
elsewhere--here, in the sight of Heaven, I pledge my faith to you, and
hold the compact as binding as if at this moment it were plighted at the
altar."

I was transported with the earnestness of these words, and covering her
hand with kisses, I exclaimed--

"And I ratify it, Astraea, my own Astraea, with my whole heart. Now, who
shall divide us? We are one, and no human power can part us."

I then related to her the circumstances that had taken place the
preceding evening. She heard me throughout with a calmness that
surprised me. I expected that the extraordinary conduct of the dwarf
would have excited her indignation; but she seemed to know him better
than I did, and although I could perceive a heavy flush sometimes rush
into her cheeks, and a sudden pallor succeed it, the narrative of his
mysterious menaces did not appear to produce half as much astonishment
in her mind as it did in mine.

"We will talk of this another time," she observed; "at present we must
think of ourselves. I know his character--I know the demoniac revenge he
is capable of; and, for our own safety, we must avoid him."

"Revenge!" I echoed. The phrase coming from Astraea fell strangely on my
ears.

"I will leave the house to-morrow; but, for your sake, I will hold no
communication with you till I am beyond his reach. Once assured of that,
I will write to you, and you will come to me. This is the only act I
will ask to take upon my own responsibility, and I do so because it will
secure our mutual safety. From that hour I shall be implicitly guided by
you."

I should have been glad to have adopted