Edward to urge him to go and say farewell to you; for I knew that in your heart, Fanny, you loved him.”

Fanny made a great effort to recover her self-command, and, after a minute, said, "I shall certainly try to dissuade him from quitting his country, if he should come to see me." Her lips quivered, as she uttered this if.

"Beware, dear Fanny, of the effect of what you say now to William Roberts. You cannot now gloss over to your conscience any questionable act. You know to what point he loves you. If you do not truly love him if you do not mean to marry him, do not attempt to influence him in any way; do not tempt him or yourself by the tantalizing profession of a dangerous friendship, that may or may not be love. Be simple - be true-hearted, as you value your future peace of mind."

Fanny soon rose to go home. As they parted, Amy kissed her tenderly, and said, "All will be well, dear Fanny, if you are only true to yourself."

"How is it, Amy," replied Fanny, as she hastily brushed away a tear, "that I still love you so well, when you make me feel so cheap, and look so silly?"

CHAPTER IV.

How oft when at the court of love
Concealment is the fashion,
When Howd'y'do has failed to move,
Good-bye reveals the passion.

A few days after her interview with Fanny, Amy received the following letter from her.

My dear philosophical Cousin,

As the weather prevents my seeing you today, I must e'en indite a little epistle to you; for I have too many things on my heart to keep them to myself.

I took your advice, and did not put on any airs when Roberts came to take leave of me. I was a perfect Miranda; I was sorry, very sorry for all my naughtiness to him; I did not tell him that though; but, somehow or other I think he found it out. I told him I was very sorry that he was going away, and that made him very glad; and - but you will easily guess all the rest we of course had a little scene. But, Amy, do not think I

SKETCHES OF MARRIED LIFE.

41

found it easy to be so very good. I was tempted sorely when I saw how pleased he was at my regret at his departure, I wanted dreadfully to tease him just a very little in revenge for having obliged me to make such a sacrifice of my pride; but I did not. I was really good all the time; I was as good as our friend Mrs. Lovell, or Loveall as I call her, who, you know, says Sir to her husband, and my dear, to every body else. She will patronize me now, I have no doubt, as Mr. Roberts is very rich.

Well I have not told you the worst of it yet, Amy. I have not only had the indiscretion to let Mr. Roberts find out that I loved him, but I have, if you will believe it, promised to marry him, as your Ruth says right away, in no time. This I like, however; I could never behave well through a long courtship. Old father Jacob, I am sure, deserved all his honors and far better wives than he obtained as a reward for waiting so long for each of them. I certainly should not be worth waiting seven months, nor even seven weeks for, I fear. It is hardly fair that I should marry William Roberts. He thinks me better than I am; but the more I tell him so, the more he will not believe it. Poor

fellow! I hope he will not repent when it is too late. I feel, dear Amy, like a Scotch song, half gay, half sad.

What ails this heart o' mine?

What ails this watery ee?

I tell you, Amy, William Roberts is too good for me. If I could only just discover some little fault in him, I should not feel so badly about marrying him. I should not feel so like a cheat. What if he should come to the same conclusion after we are married, and there is no help for it? What if he should cease to love me, when he finds just what I am; when he becomes acquainted with my fidgetty, irritable temper? What should I do then? Can I, Amy, always hope to hide my weaknesses from him? I must try. I shall be happier with him than I have ever been before, and he is a pattern of patience, I know.

There is no help for it now; married we are to be as soon as all the ridiculous preparations can be made which must precede this catastrophe. I love him; I always have loved him better than anything in this blessed life there are but two things that can be named against him; one is his over-estimate

of me; the other is he is too proper, too polite. You have before you, Amy, a far easier task than I have; you have only to be, I have to seem excellent. I began with the intention of writing just a little note to you; but somehow or other I can never be satisfied with a few words especially with you, dear Amy this is one of my faults, and the cause of many others. Roberts, however, is a silent man; so it is fortunate that I can talk, especially when we have company. If he could only be induced to talk more, perhaps I should not find him so very, very wise. . I often think that the only difference between the wise and simple, so called, is that while the one talks out all his or her folly, the other prudently hides it by saying nothing. It is evident I am no such hypocrite as this. One thing, dear Amy, I have never yet told you, and that is how truly and how tenderly I love you. Truly yours,

a

FANNY HERBERT.

Amy immediately replied to her cousin's letter.

Dear Fanny,

Thank you for your long note. I rejoice at its contents; I rejoice with my whole heart