from　society；　and　driven　for　companionship
  to　grades　below　his　ownenjoying；
  too；　the　dangerous　prerogative　of　spending
  much　money。
  However；　you　may　easily　suppose　that
  I　found　nothing　in　my　cousin's　communication
  fully　to　bear　me　out　in　so　very
  decided　a　conclusion。
  I　awaited　the　arrival　of　my　uncle；
  which　was　every　moment　to　be　expected；
  with　feelings　half　of　alarm；　half　of
  curiositya　sensation　which　I　have　often
  since　experienced；　though　to　a　less　degree；
  when　upon　the　point　of　standing　for　the
  first　time　in　the　presence　of　one　of　whom
  I　have　long　been　in　the　habit　of　hearing
  or　thinking　with　interest。
  It　was；　therefore；　with　some　little
  perturbation　that　I　heard；　first　a　slight
  bustle　at　the　outer　door；　then　a　slow　step
  traverse　the　hall；　and　finally　witnessed　the
  door　open；　and　my　uncle　enter　the　room。
  He　was　a　striking…looking　man；　from
  peculiarities　both　of　person　and　of　garb；　the
  whole　effect　of　his　appearance　amounted
  to　extreme　singularity。　He　was　tall；　and
  when　young　his　figure　must　have　been
  strikingly　elegant；　as　it　was；　however；　its
  effect　was　marred　by　a　very　decided　stoop。
  His　dress　was　of　a　sober　colour；　and　in
  fashion　anterior　to　anything　which　I　could
  remember。　It　was；　however；　handsome；
  and　by　no　means　carelessly　put　on；　but
  what　completed　the　singularity　of　his
  appearance　was　his　uncut；　white　hair；
  which　hung　in　long；　but　not　at　all
  neglected　curls；　even　so　far　as　his　shoulders；
  and　which　combined　with　his　regularly
  classic　features；　and　fine　dark　eyes；　to
  bestow　upon　him　an　air　of　venerable
  dignity　and　pride；　which　I　have　never　seen
  equalled　elsewhere。　I　rose　as　he　entered；
  and　met　him　about　the　middle　of　the
  room；　he　kissed　my　cheek　and　both　my
  hands；　saying：
  'You　are　most　welcome；　dear　child；　as
  welcome　as　the　command　of　this　poor
  place　and　all　that　it　contains　can　make
  you。　I　am　most　rejoiced　to　see　you
  truly　rejoiced。　I　trust　that　you　are　not
  much　fatiguedpray　be　seated　again。'
  He　led　me　to　my　chair；　and　continued：　'I
  am　glad　to　perceive　you　have　made
  acquaintance　with　Emily　already；　I　see；
  in　your　being　thus　brought　together；　the
  foundation　of　a　lasting　friendship。　You
  are　both　innocent；　and　both　young。　God
  bless　youGod　bless　you；　and　make　you
  all　that　I　could　wish。'
  He　raised　his　eyes；　and　remained　for　a
  few　moments　silent；　as　if　in　secret　prayer。
  I　felt　that　it　was　impossible　that　this　man；
  with　feelings　so　quick；　so　warm；　so　tender；
  could　be　the　wretch　that　public　opinion
  had　represented　him　to　be。　I　was　more
  than　ever　convinced　of　his　innocence。
  His　manner　was；　or　appeared　to　me；
  most　fascinating；　there　was　a　mingled
  kindness　and　courtesy　in　it　which　seemed
  to　speak　benevolence　itself。　It　was　a
  manner　which　I　felt　cold　art　could　never
  have　taught；　it　owed　most　of　its　charm　to
  its　appearing　to　emanate　directly　from　the
  heart；　it　must　be　a　genuine　index　of　the
  owner's　mind。　So　I　thought。
  My　uncle　having　given　me　fully　to
  understand　that　I　was　most　welcome；　and
  might　command　whatever　was　his　own；
  pressed　me　to　take　some　refreshment；　and
  on　my　refusing；　he　observed　that　previously
  to　bidding　me　good…night；　he　had　one　duty
  further　to　perform；　one　in　whose　observance
  he　was　convinced　I　would　cheerfully
  acquiesce。
  He　then　proceeded　to　read　a　chapter
  from　the　Bible；　after　which　he　took　his
  leave　with　the　same　affectionate　kindness
  with　which　he　had　greeted　me；　having
  repeated　his　desire　that　I　should　consider
  everything　in　his　house　as　altogether　at
  my　disposal。　It　is　needless　to　say　that　I
  was　much　pleased　with　my　uncleit　was
  impossible　to　avoid　being　so；　and　I　could
  not　help　saying　to　myself；　if　such　a　man
  as　this　is　not　safe　from　the　assaults　of
  slander；　who　is？　I　felt　much　happier　than
  I　had　done　since　my　father's　death；　and
  enjoyed　that　night　the　first　refreshing
  sleep　which　had　visited　me　since　that　event。
  My　curiosity　respecting　my　male　cousin
  did　not　long　remain　unsatisfiedhe
  appeared　the　next　day　at　dinner。　His
  manners；　though　not　so　coarse　as　I　had
  expected；　were　exceedingly　disagreeable；
  there　was　an　assurance　and　a　forwardness
  for　which　I　was　not　prepared；　there
  was　less　of　the　vulgarity　of　manner；　and
  almost　more　of　that　of　the　mind；　than　I
  had　anticipated。　I　felt　quite　uncomfortable
  in　his　presence；　there　was　just　that
  confidence　in　his　look　and　tone　which
  would　read　encouragement　even　in　mere
  toleration；　and　I　felt　more　disgusted　and
  annoyed　at　the　coarse　and　extravagant
  compliments　which　he　was　pleased　from
  time　to　time　to　pay　me；　than　perhaps　the
  extent　of　the　atrocity　might　fully　have
  warranted。　It　was；　however；　one　consolation
  that　he　did　not　often　appear；　being
  much　engrossed　by　pursuits　about　which　I
  neither　knew　nor　cared　anything；　but
  when　he　did　appear；　his　attentions；　either
  with　a　view　to　his　amusement　or　to　some
  more　serious　advantage；　were　so　obviously
  and　perseveringly　directed　to　me；　that
  young　and　inexperienced　as　I　was；　even　_I_
  could　not　be　ignorant　of　his　preference。　I
  felt　more　provoked　by　this　odious　persecution
  than　I　can　express；　and　discouraged
  him　with　so　much　vigour；　that　I　employed
  even　rudeness　to　convince　him　that　his
  assiduities　were　unwelcome；　but　all　in
  vain。
  This　had　gone　on　for　nearly　a　twelve…
  month；　to　my　infinite　annoyance；　when　one
  day　as　I　was　sitting　at　some　needle…work
  with　my　companion　Emily；　as　was　my
  habit；　in　the　parlour；　the　door　opened；
  and　my　cousin　Edward　entered　the　room。
  There　was　something；　I　thought；　odd　in
  his　mannera　kind　of　struggle　between
  shame　and　impudencea　kind　of　flurry
  and　ambiguity　which　made　him　appear；
  if　possible；　more　than　ordinarily　disagreeable。
  'Your　servant；　ladies；'　he　said；　seating
  himself　at　the　same　time；　'sorry　to　spoil
  your　tete…a…tete；　but　never　mind；　I'll　only
  take　Emily's　place　for　a　minute　or　two；
  and　then　we　part　for　a　while；　fair　cousin。
  Emily；　my　father　wants　you　in　the　corner
  turret。　No　shilly…shally；　he's　in　a　hurry。'
  She　hesitated。　'Be　offtramp；　march！'
  he　exclaimed；　in　a　tone　which　the　poor　girl
  dared　not　disobey。
  She　left　the　room；　and　Edward　followed
  her　to　the　door。　He　stood　there　for　a
  minute　or　two；　as　if　reflecting　what　he
  should　say；　perhaps　satisfying　himself
  that　no　one　was　within　hearing　in　the
  hall。
  At　length　he　turned　about；　having　closed
  the　door；　as　if　carelessly；　with　his　foot；　and
  advancing　slowly；　as　if　in　deep　thought；　he
  took　his　seat　at　the　side　of　the　table
  opposite　to　mine。
  There　was　a　brief　interval　of　silence；
  after　which　he　said：
  'I　imagine　that　you　have　a　shrewd
  suspicion　of　the　object　of　my　early　visit；　but
  I　suppose　I　must　go　into　particulars。
  Must　I？'
  'I　have　no　conception；'　I　replied；　'what
  your　object　may　be。'
  'Well；　well；'　said　he；　becoming　more　at
  his　ease　as　he　proceeded；　'it　may　be　told　in
  a　few　words。　You　know　that　it　is　totally
  impossiblequite　out　of　the　question
  that　an　offhand　young　fellow　like　me；　and
  a　good…looking　girl　like　yourself；　could
  meet　continually；　as　you　and　I　have　done；
  without　an　attachmenta　liking　growing
  up　on　one　side　or　other；　in　short；　I　think
  I　have　let　you　know　as　plain　as　if　I　spoke
  it；　that　I　have　been　in　love　with　you
  almost　from　the　first　time　I　saw
  you。'
  He　paused；　but　I　was　too　much　horrified
  to　speak。　He　interpreted　my　silence
  favourably。
  'I　can　tell　you；'　he　continued；　'I'm
  reckoned　rather　hard　to　please；　and　very
  hard　to　HIT。　I　can't　say　when　I　was　taken
  with　a　girl　before；　so　you　see　fortune
  reserved　me'
  Here　the　odious　wretch　wound　his　arm
  round　my　waist。　The　action　at　once
  restored　me　to　utterance；　and　with　the　most
  indignant　vehemence　I　released　myself
  from　his　hold；　and　at　the　same　time
  said：
  'I　have　not　been　insensible；　sir；　of　your
  most　disagreeable　attentionsthey　have
  long　been　a　source　of　much　annoyance　to
  me；　and　you　must　be　aware　that　I　have
  marked　my　disapprobationmy　disgust
  as　unequivocally　as　I　possibly　could；　without
  actual　indelicacy。'
  I　paused；　almost　out　of　breath　from　the
  rapidity　with　which　I　had　spoken；　and
  without　giving　him　time　to　renew　the
  conversation；　I　hastily　quitted　the　room；
  leaving　him　in　a　paroxysm　of　rage　and
  mortification。　As　I　ascended　the　stairs；
  I　heard　him　open　the　parlour…door　with
  violence；　and　take　two　or　three　rapid　strides
  in　the　direction　in　which　I　was　moving。　I
  was　now　much　frightened；　and　ran　the
  whole　way　until　I　reached　my　room；　and
  having　locked　the　door；　I　listened　breathlessly；
  but　heard　no　sound。　This　relieved
  me　for　the　present；　but　so　much　had　I
  been　overcome　by　the　agitation　and　annoyance
  attendant　upon　the　scene　which　I　had
  just　gone　through；　that　when　my　cousin
  Emily　knocked　at　my　door；　I　was　weeping
  in　strong　hysterics。
  You　wi