As a brother to a well-beloved sister--or as one of his high and holy calling might have seized that favourable opportunity for endeavouring to turn a perplexed and trembling suppliant on his counsel and assistance from some dangerous path or fatal delusion, he took up the strain, and implored her not to seek from him any further information on a subject--concerning which he must tell her at once, that for many reasons it was impossible for him to enter--he could not speak of Eugene Trevor. But he implored her to think well of those warnings so strongly pressed upon her consideration by her anxious friends--above all, by the internal evidence of her own pure soul--against a course of action in which the peace and happiness of her future life might be so fatally involved. "Talk not of wasted affection," he touchingly exclaimed; "affection disinterested and blameless as yours, was never wasted--never bestowed in vain--for some good purpose, the All Wise so willed that you should for a time bestow it, and if He ordains that its waters should turn back, like the rain to their springs, He wills also that they should fill them with refreshment. Miss Seaham, it is not for me to advise you to break off your engagement with Eugene Trevor. I am the last person in the world--situated towards you as I have been"--he added in a low sad voice, "who ought to presume so to do; but let me speak to you, as you may remember I once before addressed you--before it had ever entered my heart to conceive you would stand in the position you now are in towards this Eugene Trevor. Did I not then warn you of the world into which you were hastening so unwarily--of its sins, its sorrows, and its snares; but still more, of its friendships, its smiles, its Judas kisses, awaiting not alone the eagle but the dove--the holy, harmless, and undefiled? And _now_ do not my gloomy words find an echo in your heart? does not that look of care, that heavy sigh, confess that it had been better never to have tasted of the feverish joy, the unsatisfying delight, in exchange for the peace and tranquillity you had hitherto enjoyed? Is not your confidence disturbed--your trust shaken in the object on whom your affections have been set? do you not fear to lean more heavily on that reed lest it pierce you--to grasp it firmer, lest you crush, and prove its hollowness? Oh, Miss Seaham! is not this in some degree the case with you? if so, do not seek to dive further into the why or the wherefore. Let God's providence have its way, when, it seeks to turn you from a course it is not good for you to follow. Let faith and patience have their perfect work; seek peace and happiness from a higher, surer source than the dubious object on which your affections have been placed."