blackvelvetplacedgracefullyabovethelongcurlsthatkissedhercheekandfloatedtohershoulders,scarcelybeimagined:anditwasthusshewouldeherusticbuilding,andglidethroughthedazzledranksofthevillagechildren.ShegenerallycameatthehourwhenMr.Riverswasengagedingivinghisdailycatechisinglesson.Keenly,Ifear,didtheeyeofthevisitresspiercetheyoungpastor’sheart.Asortofinstinctseemedtowarnhimofherentrance,evenwhenhedid;andwhenhewaslookingquiteawayfromthedoor,ifsheappearedatit,hischeekwouldglow,andhismarble-seemiures,thoughtheyrefusedtorelax,gedindescribably,andintheirveryquiescebecameexpressiveofarepressedfervour,strohanwmuscleglancecouldindicate.

    Ofcourse,sheknewherpower:indeed,hedidnot,becausehecouldnot,cealitfromher.InspiteofhisChristianstoicism,wheupandaddressedhim,andsmiledgaily,encingly,evenfondlyinhisface,hishandwouldtrembleandhiseyeburn.Heseemedtosay,withhissadandresolutelook,ifhedidnotsayitwithhislips,“Iloveyou,andIknowyoupreferme.Itisnotdespairofsuccessthatkeepsmedumb.IfIofferedmyheart,Ibelieveyouwouldacceptit.Butthatheartisalreadylaidonasacredaltar:thefireisarrangedroundit.Itwillsoonbenomorethanasacrified.”

    Andthenshewouldpoutlikeadisappointedchild;apensivecloudwouldsoftenherradiantvivacity;shewouldwithdrawherhandhastilyfromhis,andturnintrapetulanhisaspect,atoncesoheroidsomartyr-like.St.John,nodoubt,wouldhavegiventheworldtofollow,recall,retainher,whehuslefthim;buthewouldnotgiveoneceofheaven,norrelinquish,fortheelysiumofherlove,onehopeofthetrue,eternalParadise.Besides,hecould