he old gray cottage
was exalted to so splendid a destiny; nor the congratulations of
friends; the delight and exultation of Dr. Harlowe, who said he had
discovered it all by my pulse long before; nor the deeply interesting
and characteristic scene with Mr. Regulus; nor the parting interview
with Mrs. Linwood and Edith.

Yes, I will give a brief sketch of the last hour spent with Edith, the
night before the wedding. We were to be married in the morning, and
immediately commence our bridal journey.

Edith had never alluded to her own feelings respecting her brother's
marriage, since the evening of the only misunderstanding we ever had in
our sisterly intercourse; and it was a subject I could not introduce.
The delicate, gauzy reserve in which she enfolded herself was as
impenetrable to me as an ancient warrior's armor.

Now, when the whole household was wrapped in silence, and the lamps
extinguished, and I sat in my night robe in the recess of the window,
she came and sat down beside me. We could see each other's faces by the
silver starlight It glittered on the tear drops in the eyes of both. I
put my arms around her, and, laying my head on her bosom, poured out all
the love, gratitude, and affection with which my full heart was
burdened.

"Forgive me, my beloved Gabriella," she cried, "my apparent coldness and
estrangement. On my knees I have asked forgiveness of my heavenly
Father. With my arms round your neck, and your heart next mine, I ask
forgiveness of you. Try not to think less of me for the indulgence of a
too selfish and exacting spirit, but remember me as the poor little
cripple, who for years found her brother's arm her strength and her
stay, and learned to look up to him as the representative of Providence,
as the protecting angel of her life. Only make him happy, my own dear
sister, and I will yield him, not to your stronger, but your equal love.
His only fault is loving you too well, in depreciating too much his own
transcendent powers. You cannot help being happy with _him_, with a
being so noble and refined. If he ever wounds you by suspicion and
jealousy, bear all, and forgive all, for the sake of his exceeding
love,--for my sake, Gabriella, and for the sake of the dear Redeemer who
died for love of you."

Dear, lovely, angelic Edith! noble, inestimable Mrs. Linwood!--dearly
beloved home of my orphan years,--grave of my mother, farewell!

Farewell!--the bride of Ernest must not, cannot weep.