hall, and recognized her voice. Ruth brushed by Jerry, and greeted him with a most vehement shake of the hand.

"How are you, Ruth? and how is Miss Amy?" he said, as he returned it with equal cordiality.

"None the better for you, Mr. Edward; why have you not been to see for yourself how she is?"

"You must have heard, Ruth, of my misfortunes; I have been too busy to visit."

"I should think you might have found a few minutes for old friends."

"You know, Ruth, that there is no place where I so well love to be as at your house; but I have not been good company for any body."

"Speak well, but do better. It's not doing as you would be done by, to stay away from old friends when you are in trouble. Stars shine in the night, Mr. Edward."

"Very true, Ruth; but tell me something of Miss Amy,-is she well?"

"Why, well enough, only rather dumpish for her. But did you not send a refusal to her party? I should n't wonder if she was affronted; for when I said something to her about buying your horse which Jerry recom

mended, why she looked as if I'd advised her to buy a hornet's nest. And I know she'd be angry with me if she knew I had told you of this; but, somehow or other, I could not help it now, Mr. Edward."

"Thank you! thank you, Ruth! now is the time to find out one's true friends." "Ruth is right," said Edward to himself, after she left him. "It is not doing as I would be done by. I have not acted with that simple-hearted trust which such a nobleminded being as Amy ought to inspire. Shall I suspect her of what I should despise myself for? I have not lost anything in my own eyes, why should I in hers? But am I certain that she loved me? We have exchanged no vows, we have never uttered the word; but have we not understood each other? When together we drank in the sublime glories of Niagara, and felt that its everlasting flow was but a faint image of our own souls, that could be satisfied only with the Infinite; then did we not know that we loved each other? When our hearts have glowed with rapture at the thought of relieving the oppressed, and with indignation against tyranny; then did not our souls grow into each other's likeness? And is not this love? holy

12

SKETCHES OF MARRIED LIFE.

love! and ought it not to cast out fear? What has kept me from her at this time? pitiful pride, low-born fear. I will go to her: I must see Amy; but I must not ask her to marry a beggar. Her father! how I dread to see him! I am nothing now in his eyes: I could despise him, if he were not her father."

CHAPTER II.

"My affections

Are then most humble; I have no ambition

To see a goodlier man.'

TEMPEST.

THE next morning Edward called at Mr.
He found Amy at home, and

Weston's.

alone.

"Edward! Mr. Selmar! I am very glad to see you; why have you staid away so long?"

"Surely, Amy, you know what has occupied me; I have now to learn the cold virtues of prudence, and self-denial; and my first lesson, perhaps, ought to be to forego the pleasure of your society."

Edward looked embarrassed, agitated, and unhappy, as he said this.

"Would you," replied Amy, "resign your friends because you have lost your money?"

"A beggar must not expect to have friends: I have been a spoiled child: they tell me that I have now to learn what it is to be a

poor man; but I did not intend to speak of myself, or my affairs to you."

"These sentiments are unworthy of you, Edward. If money has had anything to do with our regard for each other, it is well it should part us; otherwise, why this apprehension now? I thought we were friends, Edward."

Amy's color rose as she said this: she was aware that she had gone farther than the conventional creed of the world might authorize; she had spoken simply from her heart. Edward seized her hand; it was in vain for him to attempt to all that was in his heart. his hopes, all his fears, so his intended self-denial was

come.

hide any longer He confessed all long cherished; suddenly over

From that moment, what were riches to her, or poverty to him? To those who have never truly loved, who have never had this full mysterious harmony of souls awakened within them, this question will excite a smile; but, thanks be to the great Source of all true love, there are many, very many of the rich as well as the poor, whose hearts will understand and respond to it.

Amy and Edward knew that they had