"Had you no confidence in your sister?"
"I did have confidence in the _sister_. But I fear it was not a sister's
confidence I sought."
"Indeed!" said Emily, her emotions destroying the appearance of surprise
the word was intended to convey.
"Emily, I will not now attempt to conceal the feelings which have torn
my heart," said Henry, in a low tone, as he took her willing hand. "When
I bade you farewell,--alas! what misfortunes have come since!--when I
left you for I dared not think how long, you know not what violence I
did to the warmest feeling of my heart. You know not what misery the
struggle between that feeling and duty has caused me. I have striven to
conquer it; but Heaven has now put you in my path, thus bidding me
resist no more the impulse of my heart. I love you, Emily, and I have
tried, for your sake and your father's, to conquer my love. Say, Emily,
may I venture to hope my love is not unvalued?"
A slight pressure of the hand he held was all the answer he
received--was, indeed, all he asked.
"You forget what I am," murmured Emily.
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