With this chivalrous determination he visited his lovely and all unconscious mistress the next day, but the fair lady was busy ironing.--"I shall see her again this evening," thought he, as he turned slowly towards the town; and see her that evening he did. They rambled out towards the cape, or promontory, almost invariably the scene of their summer evening walks; for lovers, after one or two strolls over a particular portion of ground, regard it as almost sacred; there are a thousand sweet recollections connected with every step--here they have paused to admire some particular feature in the prospect--under that spreading tree they have stood together in silence, busy with their own peculiar thoughts; and this walk is seldom, if ever, changed--it is almost like inconstancy to each other to propose a different route. They had reached the high bluff, and were seated, as usual, upon a solitary block of granite, which, had they lived in heathen times, they might have worshipped as the ancient and much respected god Terminus. Mary, who had hitherto had the conversation almost entirely to herself, suddenly noticed her lover's abstraction. "Why, what's the matter with you, Thomas?" "Nothing; I was only thinking, Mary." "'Thinking, Mary!' well, do speak to Mary once in a while. I believe," she continued, after a pause, and with a faltering voice and feeling of faintness that she could not account for, "I believe you are in love, Thomas." She had heard that day that Captain Kelson was making furious love to a sea-nymph in B----, the daughter of one of the richest inhabitants. "So I am, sweet Mary, most desperately so." "I know it, sir; I heard it all this morning; I wish you joy," gasped the poor girl. "Heard of it all! good heavens, Mary, what do you mean? it is you, my own dearest girl, that I love; who else _could_ you think of?" as he spoke he held both her hands in his and clasped them earnestly. "I heard," faltered poor Mary, "I was told that--that it was--Jane Wilson, O, Thomas!" and sinking her glowing cheek upon his shoulder, she burst into tears.