At this she smiled, and with a look, that spoke encouragement, which could not be mistaken, I suppose, she said, the scale, on which you measure distances between us, is a certain thing called money, which though you yourself disinterestedly hold in no respect, you think perhaps that I have not the spirit to treat with the same contempt as you do. Therein you do me no wrong. Were those eventual and mean advantages, which I possess, transferred from me to you, I solemnly declare they would not be a feather in your scale, as I should weigh it; why then should you suffer them to give a false preponderance to mine? When Owen laid his fortune at my feet, I had no knowledge of his character; he had the address to keep it out of sight, his manners were polite, his temper placid, in point of person nature had rather favoured him than not. My father left me free to make my choice, and I had made it; therefore I refused him. Now do you understand me, do you know me? need I be more explicit? No; the privilege of truth can go no further; sincerity itself must stop me here. Now, now you throw me on my knees for ever, the enraptured lover cried: now I look up to you as to a being, exalted above all that I conceived of human excellence: your nobleness of soul is now a charm beyond what nature has bestowed upon you, and my admiration of your beauty is almost lost whilst I adore your goodness. When happy fortune threw me in the way to save you, and receive you in my arms upon that memorable day, I had marked you out and fixed my eyes upon you in the charge; I knew you as the daughter of the wealthiest man in Portugal, and honour tied my tongue, though even then I struggled with a passion which tempted me to tell you--That your rich father amidst all his treasures had but one recompence that I would take; which being far above what I could merit, or dare aspire to, I was proudly silent, and studied rather to avoid than seek your presence, conscious that every time I looked upon you I should find fresh occasion to admire you, and, as love sunk the deeper in my heart, the deeper I should sink into despair.