Calantha for the first time yielded up her heart entirely to its enchantment; and Lord Avondale for the last.
It is said there is no happiness, and no love to be compared to that which is felt for the first time. Most persons erroneously think so; but love like other arts requires experience, and terror and ignorance, on its first approach, prevent our feeling it as strongly as at a later period. Passion mingles not with a sensation so pure, so refined as that which Calantha then conceived, and the excess of a lovers attachment terrified and overpowered the feelings of a child.
Storms of fury kindled in the eye of Lady Margaret when first she observed this mutual regard. Words could not express her indignation:—to deeds she had recourse. Absence was the only remedy to apply; and an hour, a moment's delay, by opening Calantha's mind to a consciousness of her lover's sentiments and wishes, might render even this
