The stranger opened the door of the chaise, and, uttering a joyous exclamation, gave his arm to a lady, who, trembling and agitated, could scarcely, even with that stalwart support, descend the steps.

"Ah!" she said, in a voice choked with tears, when they found themselves alone in the little parlour,--"ah! if you knew how I have suffered!" How is it that certain words, and those the homeliest, which the hand writes and the eye reads as trite and commonplace expressions--when spoken convey so much,--so many meanings complicated and refined?
"Ah! if you knew how I have suffered!" When the lover heard these words, his gay countenance fell; he drew back--his conscience smote him: in that complaint was the whole history of a clandestine love, not for both the parties, but for the woman--the painful secrecy--the remorseful deceit--the shame--the fear--the sacrifice.

She who uttered those words was scarcely sixteen.

It is an early age to leave Childhood behind for ever! "My own love! you have suffered, indeed; but it is over now.
"Over! And what will they say of me--what will they think of me at home?
Over! Ah!" "It is but for a short time; in the course of nature my uncle cannot live long: all then will be explained.

Our marriage once made public, all connected with you will be proud to own you.