did　not　know　what　my　caprice　might　be—　whether　I　was　going　to　play　the　master　and　be　stern；　or　the　friend　and　be　benignant。　I　was　now　too　fond　of　you　often　to　simulate　the　first　whim；　and；　when　I　stretched　my　hand　out　cordially；　such　bloom　and　light　and　bliss　rose　to　your　young；　wistful　features；　I　had　much　ado　often　to　avoid　straining　you　then　and　there　to　my　heart。”

“Don’t　talk　any　more　of　those　days；　sir；”　I　interrupted；　furtively　dashing　away　some　tears　from　my　eyes；　his　language　was　torture　to　me；　for　I　knew　what　I　must　do—and　do　soon—and　all　these　reminiscences；　and　these　revelations　of　his　feelings　only　made　my　work　more　difficult。

“No；　Jane；”　he　returned：　“what　necessity　is　there　to　dwell　on　the　Past；　when　the　Present　is　so　much　surer—the　Future　so　much　brighter？”

I　shuddered　to　hear　the　infatuated　assertion。

“You　see　now　how　the　case　stands—do　you　not？”　he　continued。　“After　a　youth　and　manhood　passed　half　in　unutterable　misery　and　half　in　dreary　solitude；　I　have　for　the　first　time　found　what　I　can　truly　love—I　have　found　you。　You　are　my　sympathy—my　better　self—my　good　angel。　I　am　bound　to　you　with　a　strong　attachment。　I　think　you　good；　gifted；　lovely：　a　fervent；　a　solemn　passion　is　conceived　in　my　heart；　it　leans　to　you；　draws　you　to　my　centre　and　spring　of　life；　wraps　my　existence　about　you；　and；　kindling　in　pure；　powerful　flame；　fuses　you　and　me　in　one。

“It　was　because　I　felt　and　knew　this；　that　I　resolved　to　marry　you。　To　tell　m