CHAPTER IV .-- SHE BEHOLDS THE ATTRACTIVE STRANGER.
February 16 .-- We have had such a dull life here all the winter that I have found nothing important enough to set down, and broke off my journal accordingly.

I resume it now to make an entry on the subject of dear Caroline's future.

It seems that she was too grieved, immediately after the loss of our mother, to answer definitely the question of M.de la Feste how long the postponement was to be; then, afterwards, it was agreed that the matter should be discussed on his autumn visit; but as he did not come, it has remained in abeyance till this week, when Caroline, with the greatest simplicity and confidence, has written to him without any further pressure on his part, and told him that she is quite ready to fix the time, and will do so as soon as he arrives to see her.

She is a little frightened now, lest it should seem forward in her to have revived the subject of her own accord; but she may assume that his question has been waiting on for an answer ever since, and that she has, therefore, acted only within her promise.

In truth, the secret at the bottom of it all is that she is somewhat saddened because he has not latterly reminded her of the pause in their affairs--that, in short, his original impatience to possess her is not now found to animate him so obviously.