more the face and kiss the lips of her
beloved Susan. Some relief to her anguish she expected to derive from
this privilege.

When informed of the truth, when convinced that Susan had disappeared
forever, she broke forth into fresh passion. It seemed as if her loss
was not hopeless or complete as long as she was suffered to behold the
face of her friend and to touch her lips. She accused me of acting
without warrant and without justice; of defrauding her of her dearest
and only consolation; and of treating her sister's sacred remains with
barbarous indifference and rudeness.

I explained in the gentlest terms the reasons of my conduct. I was not
surprised or vexed that she, at first, treated them as futile, and as
heightening my offence. Such was the impulse of a grief which was
properly excited by her loss. To be tranquil and steadfast, in the midst
of the usual causes of impetuosity and agony, is either the prerogative
of wisdom that sublimes itself above all selfish considerations, or the
badge of giddy and unfeeling folly.

The torrent was at length exhausted. Upbraiding was at an end; and
gratitude, and tenderness, and implicit acquiescence in any scheme which
my prudence should suggest, succeeded. I mentioned her uncle as one to
whom it would be proper, in her present distress, to apply.

She started and betrayed uneasiness at this name. It was evident that
she by no means concurred with me in my notions of propriety; that she
thought with aversion of seeking her uncle's protection. I requested her
to state her objections to this scheme, or to mention any other which
she thought preferable.

She knew nobody. She had not a friend in the world but myself. She had
never been out of her father's house. She had no relation but her uncle
Philip, and he--she could not live with him. I must not insist upon her
going to his house. It was not the place for her. She should never be
happy there.

I was, at first, inclined to suspect in my friend some capricious and
groundless antipathy. I desired her to explain what in her uncle's
character made him so obnoxious. She refused to be more explicit, and
persisted in thinking that his house was no suitable abode for her.

Finding her, in this respect, invincible, I sought for some other
expedient. Might she not easily be accommodated as a boarder in the
city, or some village, or in a remote quarter of the country? Ellis, her
nearest and most opulent neighbour, had refused