call passion at all, Caroline. I believe it is a mere fire of dry sticks, blazing up and vanishing. But we watch him, and see him kind to animals, to little children, to poor people. He is kind to us likewise—good—considerate; he does not flatter women, but he is patient with them, and he seems to be easy in their presence, and to find their company genial; he likes them not only for vain and selfish reasons, but as we like him—because we like him. Then we observe that he is just; that he always speaks the truth; that he is conscientious. We feel joy and peace when he comes into a room; we feel sadness and trouble when he leaves it. We know that this man has been a kind son, that he is a kind brother—will anyone dare to tell me that he will not be a kind husband?’

‘My uncle would affirm it unhesitatingly. “He will be sick of you in a month,” he would say.’

‘Mrs. Pryor would seriously intimate the same.’

‘Mrs. Yorke and Miss Mann would darkly suggest ditto.’

‘If they are true oracles, it is good never to fall in love.’

‘Very good, if you can avoid it.’

‘I choose to doubt their truth.’

‘I am afraid that proves you are already caught.’

‘Not I; but if I were, do you know what soothsayers I would consult?’

‘Let me hear.’

‘Neither man nor woman, elderly nor young: the little Irish beggar that comes barefoot to my door; the mouse that steals out of the cranny in the wainscot; the bird that in frost and snow pecks at my window for a crumb; the dog that licks my hand and sits beside my knee.’

‘Did you ever see anyone who was kind to such things?’

‘Did you ever see anyone whom such things seemed instinctively to follow, like, rely on?’

‘We have a black cat and an old dog at the Rectory. I know somebody to whose knee that black cat loves to climb, against whose shoulder and cheek it likes to purr. The old dog always comes out of his kennel and wags his tail and whines affectionately when somebody passes.’

‘And what does that somebody do?’

‘He quietly strokes the cat, and lets her sit while he conveniently can, and when he must disturb her by rising, he puts her softly down, and never flings her from him roughly; he always whistles to the dog, and gives him a caress.’

‘Does he? It is not Robert?’

‘But it is Robert.’

‘Handsome fellow!’ said Shirley with enthusiasm.

Her eyes sparkled.

‘Is he not handsome? Has he not fine eyes and well-cut features, and a clear, princely forehead?’

‘He has all that, Caroline. Bless him! he is both graceful and good.’