obey your bell, and
ever and anon to catch your voice! Oh! now I wish indeed Mr. Temple were
here, and then I might be your guest.'

'My father!' exclaimed Miss Temple, in a somewhat serious tone. 'I ought
to have written to him to-day! Oh! talk not of my father, speak only of
yourself.'

They stood in silence as they were about to emerge upon the lawn, and
then Miss Temple said, 'Dear Ferdinand, you must go; indeed you must.
Press me not to enter. If you love me, now let us part. I shall retire
immediately, that the morning may sooner come. God bless you, my
Ferdinand. May He guard over you, and keep you for ever and ever. You
weep! Indeed you must not; you so distress me. Ferdinand, be good, be
kind; for my sake do not this. I love you; what can I do more? The time
will come we will not part, but now we must. Good night, my Ferdinand.
Nay, if you will, these lips indeed are yours. Promise me you will
not remain here. Well then, when the light is out in my chamber, leave
Ducie. Promise me this, and early tomorrow, earlier than you think, I
will pay a visit to your cottage. Now be good, and to-morrow we will
breakfast together. There now!' she added in a gay tone, 'you see
woman's wit has the advantage.' And so without another word she ran
away.

CHAPTER III.

_Which on the Whole Is Found Very Consoling_.

THE separation of lovers, even with an immediate prospect of union,
involves a sentiment of deep melancholy. The reaction of our solitary
emotions, after a social impulse of such peculiar excitement, very much
disheartens and depresses us. Mutual passion is complete sympathy. Under
such an influence there is no feeling so strong, no fancy so delicate,
that it is not instantly responded to. Our heart has no secrets, though
our life may. Under such an influence, each unconsciously labours to
enchant the other; each struggles to maintain the reality of that ideal
which has been reached in a moment of happy inspiration. Then is the
season when the voice is ever soft, the eye ever bright, and every
movement of the frame airy and picturesque; each accent is full of
tenderness; each glance, of affection; each gesture, of grace. We live
in a heaven of our own creation. All happens that can contribute to our
perfect satisfaction, and can ensure our complete self-complacency. We
give and we receive felicity. We adore and we are adored. Love is the
May-day of the heart.

But a cloud nevertheless will dim the g