I stopped----

Then she spoke, but with vexation--I am--I am--very unhappy--Tears
trickling down her crimson cheeks, and her sweet face, as my arms still
encircled the finest waist in the world, sinking upon my shoulder; the
dear creature so absent, that she knew not the honour she permitted me.

But why, but why unhappy, my dearest life? said I:--all the gratitude
that ever overflowed the heart of the most obliged of men--

Justice to myself there stopped my mouth: for what gratitude did I owe
her for obligations so involuntary?

Then recovering herself, and her usual reserves, and struggling to free
herself from my clasping arms, How now, Sir! said she, with a cheek more
indignantly glowing, and eyes of fiercer lustre.

I gave way to her angry struggle; but, absolutely overcome by so
charming a display of innocent confusion, I caught hold of her hand as
she was flying from me, and kneeling at her fee, O my angel, said I,
(quite destitute of reserve, and hardly knowing the tenor of my own
speech; and had a parson been there, I had certainly been a gone man,)
receive the vows of your faithful Lovelace. Make him yours, and only
yours, for ever. This will answer every end. Who will dare to form plots
and stratagems against my wife? That you are not so is the ground of
all their foolish attempts, and of their insolent hopes in Solmes's
favour.--O be mine!--I beseech you (thus on my knee I beseech you) to
be mine. We shall then have all the world with us. And every body will
applaud an event that every body expects.

Was the devil in me! I no more intended all this ecstatic nonsense, than
I thought the same moment of flying in the air! All power is with this
charming creature. It is I, not she, at this rate, that must fail in the
arduous trial.

Didst thou ever before hear of a man uttering solemn things by an
involuntary impulse, in defiance of premeditation, and of all his proud
schemes? But this sweet creature is able to make a man forego every
purpose of his heart that is not favourable to her. And I verily think
I should be inclined to spare her all further trial (and yet what trial
has she had?) were it not for the contention that her vigilance has set
on foot, which shall overcome the other. Thou knowest my generosity
to my uncontending Rosebud--and sometimes do I qualify my
ardent aspirations after even this very fine creature, by this
reflection:--That the most charming woman on earth, were she an empress,