e would
create a blank in the society of a city, not to speak of a narrow
circle in a remote country-house." As for May herself, she was almost
heart-broken at the thought of separation. It was not alone the winning
graces of her manner, and the numberless captivations she possessed, but
that she had really such a "knowledge of the heart," she had given her
such an insight into her own nature, that, but for her, she had never
acquired; and poor May would shudder at the thought of the ignorance
with which she had been about to commence the voyage of life, until she
had fortunately chanced upon this skilful pilot. But for Mrs. Morris it
was possible, nay, it was almost certain, she should one day or other
have married Charles Heathcote,--united herself to one in every way
unsuited to her, "a good-tempered, easy-natured, indolent creature, with
no high ambitions,--a man to shoot and fish, and play billiards,
and read French novels, but not the soaring intellect, not the high
intelligence, the noble ascendancy of mind, that should win such a heart
as yours, May." How strange it was that she should never before have
recognized in Charles all the blemishes and shortcomings she now
detected in his character! How singular that she had never remarked
how selfish he was, how utterly absorbed in his own pursuits, how little
deference he had for the ways or wishes of others, and then, how abrupt,
almost to rudeness, his manners! To be sure, part of this careless and
easy indifference might be ascribed to a certain sense of security; "he
knows you are betrothed to him, dearest; he is sure you must one day
be his wife, or, very probably, he would be very different,--more of an
ardent suitor, more eager and anxious in his addresses. Ah, there it
is! men are ever so, and yet they expect that we poor creatures are to
accept that half fealty as a full homage, and be content with that small
measure of affection they deign to accord us! That absurd Will has done
it all, dear child. It is one of those contracts men make on parchment,
quite forgetting that there are such things as human affections. You
must marry him, and there's an end of it!"

Now, Charles, on his side, was very fond of his cousin. If he was n't in
love with her, it was because he did n't very well understand what
being in love meant; he had a notion, indeed, that it implied giving up
hunting and coursing, having no dogs, not caring for the Derby, or even
opening "Punch" o