Delightful phrase! not only was she deemed worthy of receiving a valentine, but the writer evidently considered that she had received others! The charm, however, of this valentine did not consist in the heading, nor even in the love-breathing stanzas that followed; but in the handwriting. It was unquestionably, unmistakably, the handwriting of Heathcote! There was a peculiarity in the formation of the letters that Janet had more than once remarked to Philippa, when he had written notes on some trifling subject to their guardian or themselves. There was no attempt to disguise the hand--no attempt to disguise the feelings. These were the words that electrified poor Janet, or perhaps I should say "mesmerized" her; for she certainly seemed translated to a very different kind of existence from that of the everyday world, dull and vexatious occasionally to all of us, but invariably dull and vexatious to her. St. Valentine returns--the pleasant time Of opening verdure and of singing birds Noted for mystic fantasies in rhyme, Where gay devices, mingled with soft words, To many a blushing ladye-love impart The feelings of her timid lover's heart. Beneath St. Valentine's protecting shroud, Lady, I dare thy favor to beseech; I am at once too humble and too proud To woo thee in a fluent form of speech; Methinks my trembling spirit could not brook Thy cold rejoinder, or thy grave rebuke. Therefore, my deep and never-changing love Pours forth its ardor in this veiled disguise; Shouldst thou my passion scorn or disapprove, Meet me with distant look and frigid eyes; I will abide by that denial mute, As though the voice of worlds forbade my suit. But if thy heart of kindred love should tell, Let warm inspiring smiles thy thoughts express; Then shall this scroll have done its bidding well, And my freed tongue shall joyously confess How first I strove to win thy faith to mine, In the quaint fashion of St. Valentine! Janet felt much as Cinderella may be supposed to have done when her fairy godmother converted her ragged attire into a splendid gala-dress. Life in a moment seemed changed to her view; all misanthropic fancies, all gloomy forebodings took flight; she was ready to exclaim, in the words of the song, "This world is a beautiful world after all!"