“Preposterous, Frank! you make me angry! It is a very different thing from being enamored of her, let me tell you! There is my beautiful, but cold and scornful bride, up at Clifton! Well, I am the most patient of all adoring slaves! I wait upon her sovereign eyes all day long! I am proud to submit to her whims—to do her lightest bidding, and pick up her lap-dog—or to obey her severest command, and exile myself from her gracious presence all day long! But now observe the difference! I feel a deep, strong, strange interest in Kate. I cannot account for it. I feel a sort of unratified right of property in her. I wish to do her good. But I wish that all the good she may ever possess in the world, may come from only me! and that for all good things with which I cannot supply her, she may _suffer_ the want rather than owe their possession to another! Very like _love_, is it not? But I wish to control her destiny! I wish to have her in my power!—_in all honor, however!_ It galls me to think that I have no right of authority or guardianship over her! I ardently desire such a right! I long to have the disposal of her person and fate! I crave with a frantic craving, to have more than a father’s—more than a husband’s—more than a master’s right over her! I would to God she were born mine—my own—body, soul and spirit! My own to use or abuse—to crown or kill, as I listed!” exclaimed Clifton, passionately, while his cheeks and very lips were white and dry, and his eyes burned with a fierce, consuming, inward fire. And forgetting all things real, he felt as in a vision, a girl’s spirit swoop down upon his bosom, and a dream voice murmur in his ear—“Oh! if it will give you one instant’s joy to press me strongly to your heart—crush me to death in the fold, and my soul will exhale in rapture to Heaven.” The fervid vision came and passed like lightning, and Clifton roused himself from reverie, with a smile and a sneer, saying—“Very like love, all that! is it not?” But as Frank did not reply, and as they had now arrived at the gate leading into the yard, the conversation ceased. The early tea-table was set out under the shade of the great oaks, and the ladies were walking about, taking the evening air in the yard. As supper was only waiting the arrival of Captain Clifton and Mr. Fairfax, it was now speedily served. After tea was over, the carriages were all brought round and the company took leave of Mrs. Clifton, and departed. Captain Clifton and Mr. Fairfax were the last to leave. They mounted their horses and took the bridle-path down the mountain side. This separated them from the rest of their party, who went by the road. They did not, however, converse. Frank was thoughtful, and Clifton himself buried in a deep reverie.