"Isabella, my sweet Isabella! pardon me, my love; my kind, patient girl." Isabella was in his arms, but she had fainted, for the revulsion in her feelings had been too rapid. He carried her, himself, to her couch, and, after seeing her recovered and cheerful, returned to dinner, much relieved, saying to Mary, "he had more satisfaction, a great deal, in knowing poor Isabella was unable to eat, than in believing her subject to airs and affectations, such as some girls were guilty of, and which of late he had been apprehensive she was adopting."
"I cannot say I have equal stoicism," said Mary; "I love her far too well to see her sufferings unmoved, much as I admire her fortitude and patience: but you cannot understand her as well as I do. You consider her as a mere child; I know her to be a well-principled woman, with an understanding far in advance of her years, and a strength of mind only equalled by the integrity and beautiful simplicity of her character. I had hoped that, as a sensible man, you chose her for her excellent qualities, as my mother always called her the plainest of the family. She is the only brunette, certainly."
"She is; and I liked her for that reason. Moreover, before she became so poorly, she approached my standard of beauty more nearly every day. In fact, she grew very like"
Isabella at this moment entered the room: she found herself better, and could not forego the plea-
