father, turning round to him somewhat sharply. Harry came up to see what it was. "It is to Hester's cousin, once a pretender for her hand. I ought to let him know it is disposed of, ought I not?" said my father, and he lifted the cover, which was addressed to "Edgar Southcote, Esq., Cottiswoode." My father was looking full at him, and I saw once more that burning flush rise to Harry's hair, and cover his whole face. Their eyes met; I do not know, and have never known what was in the glance; but Harry never spoke, he turned to me immediately, and took my hand, and said hoarsely with an extraordinary suppressed emotion, "Hester--my wife! Hester--it is time to go away." I thought he rather wished to draw me from my father's side, to keep me from much conversation with him; but he looked up again at me with recovered composure, and turned again boldly to my father. "All this only agitates and distresses me," he said, holding out his hand; "let me take her away, it is our time." My father slowly extended his hand to him. "Take her away!" he said, "she is yours, and I do not dispute with you the triumph you have gained. Hester, my love, go and get ready. I will detain you no longer; Osborne, take leave of her, she is going away." Then Mr. Osborne came forward and took both my hands and looked into my face. I was surprised to see that a tear twinkled in his sunny bright gray eye. "So you are going away," he said; "well, it is the course of nature; but Cambridge will be all the duller, Hester, when you are not to be met with in the streets. Good-bye! my dear child, I wished for this, but it costs me a pang notwithstanding. Good-bye, Hester! and don't let anything persuade you to be offended with your old friend." With an old-fashioned graceful courtesy, he kissed my hand. I think I never felt so strong a momentary impulse to cling to any one, as at that time I did cling to him. _He_ said it grieved him that I should go away; but, alas! there was no tear for me in my father's thoughtful eye. I had to restrain whatever I felt; my eyes were blinded with tears; but Miss Osborne was rustling forward to support me and give me her arm upstairs, and I would not call forth her common-place coldness, should I not even have ten minutes with Alice, all by ourselves. But Alice contrived this, and, as I changed my dress, Alice wept over me. "The house will be desolate--desolate, darling," said Alice, "but I see nothing but happiness for you. It makes my heart light to think on what's before you. He's a noble young gentleman, Miss Hester; I never saw one was equal to him. Now, darling, you're ready, and here's the picture, my sweet young lady's sweet face to be your counsellor, my own child, and blessing and prosperity and joy be with you. Farewell, farewell;--I'll not cry now. I'll not shed tears on the threshold the bride steps over, and there's himself waiting for you."