"But papa?
His eye is on us." "Never deceive your father!" said the Sister, almost sternly; "but," darting her gray eyes right into those dove-like orbs, "give me five minutes' start--IF YOU REALLY LOVE SIR CHARLES BASSETT." With these words she carried off the letter; and Bella ran, blushing, panting, trembling, to her father, and clung to him.
He questioned her, but could get nothing from her very intelligible until the Sister was out of sight, and then she told him all without reserve.
"I was unworthy of him to doubt him.

An anonymous slander.

I'll never trust appearances again.

Poor Charles! Oh, my darling! what he must have suffered if he loves like me." Then came a shower of happy tears; then a shower of happy kisses.
The admiral groaned, but for a long time he could not get a word in.
When he did it was chilling.

"My poor girl," said he, "this unhappy love blinds you.