Will you
promise me this much--do not commit yourself until you have seen more
of Valeria and in some degree test her worth. How is it that a man of
such deep thought, hard study, and so earnest and devoted to his work,
should place his affections on one so very dissimilar? It is very
strange to me, particularly as in the same house is her cousin, Miss
Bland--just the woman for you. A well-cultivated, thoroughly-disciplined
mind, with great energy and industry. You know well, of charities her
name is always among the first; ready with time and money to help in
good works. Why could you not have loved her? Why did your heart
wander from the right?"
"Oh, father! you ask why the heart wanders! I know too truly love
cannot be tutored; but will drag away the heart--often against our
better judgment, and wander with it where it will--sometimes dropping
on the bosom of a calmly gliding river; again amid the turbulent waves
of a dark and stormy sea. Heaven grant that this last may not be the
fate of mine. The true reason, however, that I became attached to Miss
Fairleigh I think is this: I was so accustomed to, so tired of,
dignified, sedate and 'well-disciplined' young ladies, who always put
on church behavior and talk only of church matters when the minister
is near, that when I met her she was so different such a bright, merry
child of nature, I was charmed! Yes, I may say, refreshed, rested.
Pages:
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155