itself upon me, it was expelled at once; and persuasion of the purity of his motives was too easy, where my wish was father to the thought. If I remained at college, years might elapse before our union. _Now, immediately_, if I accepted this unlooked-for offer--she was mine, and a home, such as in other circumstances I could never hope to give her, was ready for her reception! I could think of nothing else, but I beheld in the unexpected good--the outstretched hand of Providence. Full of my delight, I communicated the intelligence to Anna; but very different was its effect on her. She read the letter, and looked at me as if she wished to read the most hidden of my secret wishes. "'What have you thought of doing, then?' she asked. "'Accepting the proposal, Anna,' I replied, 'with your consent.' "'Never with that,' she answered almost solemnly. 'My lips shall never bid you turn from the course which you have chosen, and to which you have been called. You do not require wealth--you have said so many times--and I am sure it is not necessary for your happiness.' "'I think not of myself, dear Anna,' I replied. 'I have more than enough for my own wants. It is for your sake that I would accept their offer, and become richer than we can ever be if I refuse it. Our marriage now depends upon a hundred things--is distant at the best, and may never be. The moment that I consent to this arrangement, you are mine for ever.' "'Warton,' she said, more seriously than ever, 'I am yours. You have my heart, and I have engaged to give you, when you ask it, this poor hand. In any condition of life--I am yours. But I tell you that I never can deliberately ask you to resign the hopes which we have cherished--with, as we have believed, the approbation and the blessing of our God. Your line of duty is, as I conceive it--marked. Whilst you proceed, steadily and with a simple mind--come what may, your pillow will never be moistened with tears of remorse. If affliction and trial come--they will come as the chastening of your Father, who will give you strength to bear the load you have not cast upon yourself. But once diverge from the straight and narrow path, and who can see the end of difficulty and danger? You are unused to business, you know nothing of its forms, its ways--you are not fit for it. Your habits--your temperament are opposed to it, and you cannot enter the field as you should--to prosper. Think not of me. I wish--my happiness, and joy, and pride will be to see you a respected minister of God. I am not impatient. If we do right, our reward will come at last. Let years intervene, and my love for you will burn as steadily as now. Do not be tempted--and do not let us think that good can result--if, for my sake, you are unfaithful--_there_!' She pointed upwards as she spoke, and for a moment the sinfulness of my wishes blazed before me--startled, and silenced me. I resolved to decline my uncle's offer; yet a week elapsed, and the letter was not written.