ugh themselves at all times
strong, discovered only the honest earnestness of truth.

"Ah, now, you look--and now you are indeed my sister. Hear me, then,
Lucy, and listen to all my plans. You have not seen Edith--my Edith
now--you must be _her_ sister too. She is now, or will be soon,
something nearer to me than a sister--she is something dearer already.
We shall immediately return to Carolina, and you will go along with us."

"It may not be, Ralph--I have determined otherwise. I will be your
sister--as truly so as sister possibly could be--but I can not go with
you. I have made other arrangements."

The youth looked up in astonishment. The manner of the maiden was very
resolute, and he knew not what to understand. She proceeded, as she saw
his amazement:--

"It may not be as you propose, Mr.--Ralph--my brother--circumstances
have decreed another arrangement--another, and perhaps a less grateful
destiny for me."

"But why, Lucy, if a less pleasant, or at least a doubtful arrangement,
why yield to it--why reject my solicitation? What is the plan to which,
I am sad to see, you so unhesitatingly give the preference?"

"Not unhesitatingly--not unhesitatingly, I assure you. I have thought
upon it deeply and long, and the decision is that of my cooler thought
and calmer judgment. It may be in a thousand respects a less grateful
arrangement than that which you offer me; but, at least, it will want
one circumstance which would couple itself with your plan, and which
would alone prompt me to deny myself all its other advantages."

"And what is that one circumstance, dear Lucy, which affrights you so
much? Let me know. What peculiarity of mine--what thoughtless
impropriety--what association, which I may remove, thus prevents your
acceptance of my offer, and that of Edith? Speak--spare me not in what
you shall say--but let your thoughts have their due language, just as if
you were--as indeed you are--my sister."

"Ask me not, Ralph. I may not utter it. It must not be whispered to
myself, though I perpetually hear it. It is no impropriety--no
peculiarity--no wrong thought or deed of yours, that occasions it. The
evil is in me; and hence you can do nothing which can possibly change my
determination."

"Strange, strange girl! What mystery is this? Where is now that feeling
of confidence, which led you to comply with my prayer, and consider me
as your brother? Why keep this matter from me--why withhold any
particular, the