part, as things for love and worship--domestic
divinities, whose true altar-place is the fireside; whose true sway is
over fond hearts, generous sensibilities, and immaculate honor. Where
should they learn to contend with guile--to acquire cunning and
circumspection--to guard the heart--to keep sweet affections locked up
coldly, like mountain waters? Shall we wonder that they sometimes
deceive themselves rather than their neighbors--that they sometimes
misapprehend their own feelings, and mistake for love some less
absorbing intruder, who but lights upon the heart for a single instant,
as a bird upon his spray, to rest or to plume his pinions, and be off
with the very next zephyr. But all this is wide of the mark, Forrester,
and keeps you from your story."

"My story isn't much, Master Colleton, and is easily told. I love Kate
Allen, and as I said before, I believe Kate loves me; and though it be
scarcely a sign of manliness to confess so much, yet I must say to you,
'squire, that I love her so very much that I can not do without her."

"I honor your avowal, Forrester, and see nothing unmanly or unbecoming
in the sentiment you profess. On the contrary, such a feeling, in my
mind, more truly than any other, indicates the presence and possession
of those very qualities out of which true manhood is made. The creature
who prides himself chiefly upon his insensibilities, has no more claim
to be considered a human being than the trees that gather round us, or
the rocks over which we travel."

"Well, 'squire, I believe you are right, and I am glad that such is your
opinion, for now I shall be able to speak to you more freely upon this
subject. Indeed, you talk about the thing so knowingly, that I should
not be surprised, 'squire, to find out that you too had something of the
same sort troubling your heart, though here you are travelling far from
home and among strangers."

The remark of Forrester was put with an air of arch inquiry. A slight
shadow passed over and clouded the face of the youth, and for a moment
his brow was wrinkled into sternness; but hastily suppressing the
awakened emotion, whatever its origin might have been, he simply
replied, in an indirect rebuke, which his companion very readily
comprehended:--

"You were speaking of your heart, I believe, Forrester, and not of mine.
If you please, we will confine ourselves to the one territory,
particularly as it promises to find us sufficient employment of itsel