And now, away to Dorothy, and call up the old sluggard; we must have a substantial breakfast, after a night of confusion and a morning of joy, and thy hand will be needed to prepare for us some of these delicate cakes which no one can make but thyself; and well hast thou a right to the secret, seeing who taught it thee.

Ah! health to the soul of thy dearest mother," he added, with a sigh; "how blythe would she have been to see this happy St.Valentine's morning!" Catharine took the opportunity of escape which was thus given her, and glided from the room.

To Henry it seemed as if the sun had disappeared from the heaven at midday, and left the world in sudden obscurity.

Even the high swelled hopes with which the late incident had filled him began to quail, as he reflected upon her altered demeanour--the tears in her eyes, the obvious fear which occupied her features, and the pains she had taken to show, as plainly as delicacy would permit, that the advances which she had made to him were limited to the character with which the rites of the day had invested him.

Her father looked on his fallen countenance with something like surprise and displeasure.
"In the name of good St.John, what has befallen you, that makes you look as grave as an owl, when a lad of your spirit, having really such a fancy for this poor girl as you pretend, ought to be as lively as a lark ?" "Alas, father!" replied the crestfallen lover, "there is that written on her brow which says she loves me well enough to be my Valentine, especially since you wish it, but not well enough to be my wife." "Now, a plague on thee for a cold, downhearted goosecap," answered the father.