He came, resolved to exert all his influence, to urge every plea which the affection of Laura would allow him, in order to extort her consent to their immediate union; and he was too well convinced of his power to be very diffident of success. Laura ceased her song in as much confusion as if her visitor had understood the language in which it was composed, or could have known himself to be the subject of it. He had been listening to its close, and now urged her to continue it, but was unable to prevail. He knew that she was particularly sensible to the charms of music. He had often witnessed the effect of her own pathetic voice upon her feelings; and he judged that no introduction could be more proper to a conference in which he intended to work on her sensibility. He therefore begged her to sing a little plaintive air with which she had often drawn tears from his eyes. But Laura knew that, as her father was still in bed, she could not without rudeness avoid a long tête à tête with Hargrave, and therefore she did not choose to put her composure to any unnecessary test. She excused herself from complying with his request, but glad to find any indifferent way to pass the time, she offered to sing, if he would allow her to choose her own song, and then began a lively air, which she executed with all the vivacity that she could command. The style of it was quite at variance with Hargrave's present humour and design. He heard it with impatience; and scarcely thanking her said, 'Your spirits are high this morning, Miss Montreville.' 'They are indeed,' replied Laura, gaily, 'I hope you have no intention to make them otherwise.' 'Certainly not; though they are little in unison with my own. The meditations of a restless, miserable night, have brought me to you.' 'Is it the usual effect of a restless night to bring you abroad so early the next morning?' said Laura, anxious to avoid a trial of strength in a sentimental conference. 'I will be heard seriously,' said Hargrave, colouring with anger, 'and seriously too I must be answered.' 'Nay,' said Laura, 'if you look so tremendous I shall retreat without hearing you at all.' Hargrave, who instantly saw that he had not chosen the right road to victory, checked his rising choler--'Laura,' said he, 'you have yourself made me the victim of a passion ungovernable--irresistible; and it is cruel--it is ungenerous in you to sport with my uneasiness.' 'Do not give the poor passion such hard names,' said Laura, smiling. 'Perhaps you have never tried to resist or govern it.' 'As soon might I govern the wind,' cried Hargrave, vehemently,--'as soon resist the fires of Heaven. And why attempt to govern it?' 'Because,' answered Laura, 'it is weak, it is sinful, to submit unresisting to the bondage of an imperious passion.'