`Never!--while Heaven spares my reason,' replied I, snatching away the hand he had presumed to seize and press between his own. But he was in for it now; he had fairly broken the barrier: he was completely roused, and determined to hazard all for victory.

`I must not be denied!' exclaimed he vehemently; and seizing both my hands, he held them very tight, but dropped upon his knee, and looked up in my face with a half-imploring, half-imperious gaze. `You have no reason now: you are flying in the face of Heaven's decrees. God has designed me to be your comfort and Protector--I feel it--I know it as certainly as if a voice from Heaven declared "Ye twain shall be one flesh"--and you spurn me from you--

`Let me go, Mr. Hargrave!' said I sternly. But he only tightened his grasp.

`Let me go!' I repeated, quivering with indignation.

His face was almost opposite the window as he knelt. With a slight start, I saw him glance towards it; and then a gleam of malicious triumph lit up his countenance. Looking over my shoulder, I beheld a shadow just retiring round the corner.

`That is Grimsby,' said he deliberately. `He will report what he has seen to Huntingdon and all the rest, with such embellishments as he thinks proper. He has no love for you, Mrs. Huntingdon--no reverence for your sex--no belief in virtue--no admiration for its image. He will give such a version of this story as will leave no doubt at all, about your character, in the minds of those who hear it. Your fair fame is gone; and nothing that I or you can say can ever retrieve it. But give me the power to protect you, and show me the villain that dares to insult!'

`No one has ever dared to insult me as you are doing now!' said I, at length releasing my hands, and recoiling from him.

`I do not insult you,' cried he: `I worship you. You are my angel--my divinity! I lay my powers at your feet-- and you must and shall accept them!' he exclaimed impetuously, starting to his feet--I mill be your consoler and defender! and if your conscience upbraid you for it, say I overcame you and you could not choose but yield!'

I never saw a man so terribly excited. He precipitated himself towards me. I snatched up my palette- knife and held it 343 against him. This startled him: he stood and gazed at me in astonishment; I dare say I looked as fierce and resolute as he. I moved to the bell and put my hand upon the cord. This tamed him still more. With a half-authoritative, half-deprecating wave of the hand, he sought to deter me from ringing.

`Stand off, then!' said I. He stepped back.-- `And listen to me.--I don't like you,' I continued, as deliberately and emphatically as I could, to give the greater efficacy to my words; `and if I were divorced from my husband--or if he were dead, I would not marry you. There now! I hope you're satisfied.'

His face grew blanched with anger.

`I am satisfied,' he replied with bitter emphasis, `that you are the most cold-hearted, unnatural, ungrateful woman I ever yet beheld!'

`Ungrateful sir?'

`Ungrateful.'

`No, Mr. Hargrave; I am not. For all the good you ever did me, or ever wished to do, I most sincerely thank you: for all the evil you have done me, and all you would have done, I pray God to pardon you, and make you of a better mind.'