But what of it, if I win you?
as I shall--only aid me a little.' She slightly surprised the man by not striving to attenuate the import of the big and surcharged All: but her silence bore witness to his penetrative knowledge.

Dozens of amorous gentlemen, lovers, of excellent substance, have before now prepared this peculiar dose for themselves--the dose of the lady silent under a sort of pardoning grand accusation; and they have had to drink it, and they have blinked over the tonic draught with such power of taking a bracing as their constitutions could summon.

At no moment of their quaint mutual history are the sexes to be seen standing more acutely divided.

Well may the lady be silent; her little sins are magnified to herself to the proportion of the greatness of heart forgiving her; and that, with his mysterious penetration and a throb of her conscience, holds her tongue-tied.

She does not imagine the effect of her silence upon the magnanimous wretch.