'And so you shall, Savanna,' cried Berrendale, grasping her hand, 'and I--' Here the door opened, and Adeline appeared; who, surprised at Berrendale's familiarity with her servant, looked gravely, and stopped at the door with a look of cold surprise. Berrendale, awed into immediate respect--for what is so timid and respectful as a man truly in love?--bowed low, and lost in an instant all the hopes which had elevated his spirits to such an unusual degree. Adeline with an air of pique observed, that she feared she interrupted them unpleasantly, as something unusually agreeable and enlivening seemed to occupy them as she came in, over which her entrance seemed to have cast a cloud. The mulatto had by this time retreated to the door, and was on the point of closing it when Berrendale stammered out, as well as he could, 'Savanna was, indeed, raising my hopes to such an unexpected height, that I felt almost bewildered with joy; but the coldness of your manner, Miss Mowbray, has sobered me again.' 'And what did Savanna say to you?' cried Adeline. 'I--I say,' cried Savanna returning, 'dat is, he say, I should be let cook de wedding dinner.' Adeline, returning even paler than she was before, desired her coldly to leave the room; and, seating herself at the greatest possible distance from Berrendale, leaned for some time in silence on her hand--he not daring to interrupt her meditations. But at last she said, 'What could give rise to this singular conversation between you and Savanna I am wholly at a loss to imagine: still I--I must own that it is not so ill-timed as it would have been some weeks ago. I will own, that since yesterday I have been considering your generous proposals with the serious attention which they deserve.' On hearing this, which Adeline uttered with considerable effort, Berrendale in a moment was at her side, and almost at her feet. 'I--I wish you to return to your seat,' said Adeline coldly: but hope had emboldened him, and he chose to stay where he was. 'But, before I require you to renew your promises, or make any on my side, it is proper that I should tell you what passed yesterday; and if the additional load of obloquy which I have acquired does not frighten you from continuing your addresses--' Here Adeline paused:--and Berrendale, rather drawing back, then pushing his chair nearer her as he spoke, gravely answered, that his affection was proof against all trials. Adeline then briefly related the scene in the church-yard, and her conversation with Mrs Beauclerc, and concluded thus:--'In consequence of this, and of the recollections of HIS advice, and HIS decided opinion, that by becoming the wife of a respectable man I could alone expect to recover my rank in society, and consequently my usefulness, I offer you my hand; and promise, in the course of a few months, to become yours in the sight of God and man.' 'And from no other reason?--from no preference, no regard for me?' demanded Berrendale reproachfully.