I'm sorry I gave it you; but since I did make such a mistake, the only remedy I could think of was to take it away.' 'You misunderstood me cruelly,' I replied, and in a minute I had opened the window again, leaped out, picked up the flower, brought it in, and presented it to her, imploring her to give it me again, and I would keep it for ever for her sake, and prize it more highly than anything in the world I possessed.
'And will this content you ?' said she, as she took it in her hand.
'It shall,' I answered.
'There, then; take it.' I pressed it earnestly to my lips, and put it in my bosom, Mrs.
Huntingdon looking on with a half-sarcastic smile.
'Now, are you going ?' said she.
'I will if--if I must.' 'You are changed,' persisted she--'you are grown either very proud or very indifferent.' 'I am neither, Helen--Mrs.Huntingdon.

If you could see my heart--' 'You must be one,--if not both.

And why Mrs.Huntingdon ?--why not Helen, as before ?' 'Helen, then--dear Helen!' I murmured.

I was in an agony of mingled love, hope, delight, uncertainty, and suspense.
'The rose I gave you was an emblem of my heart,' said she; 'would you take it away and leave me here alone ?' 'Would you give me your hand too, if I asked it ?' 'Have I not said enough ?' she answered, with a most enchanting smile.

I snatched her hand, and would have fervently kissed it, but suddenly checked myself, and said,-- 'But have you considered the consequences ?' 'Hardly, I think, or I should not have offered myself to one too proud to take me, or too indifferent to make his affection outweigh my worldly goods.' Stupid blockhead that I was!--I trembled to clasp her in my arms, but dared not believe in so much joy, and yet restrained myself to say,-- 'But if you should repent!' 'It would be your fault,' she replied: 'I never shall, unless you bitterly disappoint me.