H.Where have you been,my love?
S.I have been down to see my aunt,Sir.
H.And I hope she has been giving you good advice.
S.I did not go to ask her opinion about any thing.
H.And yet you seem anxious and agitated.You appear pale and dejected,as if your refusal of me had touched your own breast with pity.Cruel girl!you look at this moment heavenly-soft,saint-like,or resemble some graceful marble statue,in the moon's pale ray!Sadness only heightens the elegance of your features.How can I escape from you,when every new occasion,even your cruelty and scorn,brings out some new charm.Nay,your rejection of me,by the way in which you do it,is only a new link added to my chain.Raise those downcast eyes,bend as if an angel stooped,and kiss me....Ah!enchanting little trembler!if such is thy sweetness where thou dost not love,what must thy love have been?I cannot think how any man,having the heart of one,could go and leave it.
S.No one did,that I know of.
H.Yes,you told me yourself he left you (though he liked you,and though he knew--Oh!gracious God!that you loved him)he left you because "the pride of birth would not permit a union."--For myself,I would leave a throne to ascend to the heaven of thy charms.I live but for thee,here--I only wish to live again to pass all eternity with thee.But even in another world,I suppose you would turn from me to seek him out who scorned you here.
S.If the proud scorn us here,in that place we shall all be equal.
H.Do not look so--do not talk so--unless you would drive me mad.I could worship you at this moment.Can I witness such perfection,and bear to think I have lost you for ever?Oh!let me hope!You see you can mould me as you like.You can lead me by the hand,like a little child;and with you my way would be like a little child's:--you could strew flowers in my path,and pour new life and hope into me.I should then indeed hail the return of spring with joy,could I indulge the faintest hope--would you but let me try to please you!
S.Nothing can alter my resolution,Sir.
H.Will you go and leave me so?
S.It is late,and my father will be getting impatient at my stopping so long.
H.You know he has nothing to fear for you--it is poor I that am alone in danger.But I wanted to ask about buying you a flageolet.Could I see that which you have?If it is a pretty one,it would hardly be worth while;but if it isn't,I thought of bespeaking an ivory one for you.Can't you bring up your own to shew me?
S.Not to-night,Sir.
H.I wish you could.
S.I cannot--but I will in the morning.
H.Whatever you determine,I must submit to.Good night,and bless thee!
[The next morning,S.brought up the tea-kettle as usual;and looking towards the tea-tray,she said,"Oh!I see my sister has forgot the tea-pot."It was not there,sure enough;and tripping down stairs,she came up in a minute,with the tea-pot in one hand,and the flageolet in the other,balanced so sweetly and gracefully.It would have been awkward to have brought up the flageolet in the tea-tray and she could not have well gone down again on purpose to fetch it.Something,therefore,was to be omitted as an excuse.Exquisite witch!But do I love her the less dearly for it?I cannot.]
