“I cannot--I mean, I would rather not at present tell you. But do not look so grave; I will tell you some time or other, if you cannot guess.” Virginia was silent, and stood abashed. “I am sure, my sweet girl,” said Mrs. Ormond, “I do not mean, by any thing I said, to confuse or blame you. It is very natural that you should be grateful to Mr. Hervey, and that you should admire, and, _to a certain degree, love_ him.” Virginia looked up delighted, yet with some hesitation in her manner. “He is, indeed,” said Mrs. Ormond, “one of the first of human beings: such even _I_ have always thought him; and I am sure I like you the better, my dear, for your sensibility,” said she, kissing Virginia as she spoke; “only we must take care of it, or this tenderness might go too far.” “How so?” said Virginia, returning her caresses with fondness: “can I love you and Mr. Hervey too much?” “Not me.” “Nor him, I’m sure--he is so good, so very good! I am afraid that I do not love him _enough_,” said she, sighing. “I love him enough when he is absent, but not when he is present. When he is near I feel a sort of fear mixed with my love. I wish to please him very much, but I should not quite like that he should show his love for me as you do--as you did just now.” “My dear, it would not be proper that he should; you are quite right not to wish it.” “Am I? I was afraid that it was a sign of my not liking him as much as I ought.” “Ah, my poor child! you love him full as much as you ought.” “Do you think so? I am glad of it,” said Virginia, with a look of such confiding simplicity, that her friend was touched to the heart. “I do think so, my love,” said Mrs. Ormond; “and I hope I shall never be sorry for it, nor you either. But it is not proper that we should say any more upon this subject now. Where are your drawings? Where is your writing? My dear, we must get forward with these things as fast as we can. That is the way to please Mr. Hervey, I can tell you.” Confirmed by this conversation in her own opinion, Mrs. Ormond was satisfied. From delicacy to her pupil, she did not repeat all that had passed to Mr. Hervey, resolving to wait till the _proper_ moment. “She is too young and too childish for him to think of marrying her yet, for a year or two,” thought she; “and it is better to repress her sensibility till her education is more finished; by that time Mr. Hervey will find out his mistake.” In the mean time she could not help thinking that he was blind, for he continued steady in his belief of Virginia’s indifference.