'Love me!' cried I, giving such a start as the nature of the case required. 'My lord, this is so--really now so----' 'Pardon this abrupt avowal of my unhappy passion,' said he, flinging himself at my feet. 'Fain would I have let concealment, like a worm in the bud, feed on my damask cheek; but, oh! who could resist the maddening sight of so much beauty?' I remained silent, and with the elegant embarrassment of modesty, cast my blue eyes to the ground. I never looked so lovely. 'But I go!' cried he, springing on his feet. 'I fly from you for ever! No more shall Cherubina be persecuted with my hopeless love. But Cherubina, the hills and the vallies shall echo, and the songsters of the grove shall articulate Cherubina. I will shake the leaves of the forest with my sighs, and make the stream so briny with my tears, that the turbot shall swim into it, and the sea-weed grow upon its banks!' 'Ah, do not!' said I, with a look of unutterable anguish. 'I will!' exclaimed he, pacing the chamber with long strides, and slapping his heart, 'and I call all the stars of respectability to witness the vow. Then, Lady Cherubina,' continued he, stopping short before me; 'then, when maddened and emaciated, I shall pillow my haggard head on a hard rock, and lulled by the hurricanes of Heaven, shall sink into the sleep of the grave.'---- 'Dear Montmorenci!' said I, quite overcome, 'live for my sake--as you value my--friendship,--live.' 'Friendship!' echoed he. 'Oh! Cherubina, Oh! my soul's precious treasure, say not that icy word. Say hatred, disgust, horror; any thing but friendship.' 'What shall I say?' cried I, ineffably affected, 'or what shall I do?' 'What you please,' muttered he, looking wild and pressing his forehead. 'My brain is on fire. Hark! chains are clanking--The furies are whipping me with their serpents--What smiling cherub arrests yon bloody hand? Ha! 'tis Cherubina. And now she frowns at me--she darts at me--she pierces my heart with an arrow of ice!' He threw himself on the floor, groaned grievously, and tore his hair. I was horror-struck. 'I declare,' said I, 'I would say any thing on earth to relieve you;--only tell me what.' 'Angel of light!' exclaimed he, springing upon his feet, and beaming on me a smile that might liquefy marble. 'Have I then hope? Dare I say it? Dare I pronounce the divine words, she loves me?' 'I am thine and thou art mine!' murmured I, while the room swam before me. He took both my hands in his own, pressed them to his forehead and lips, and leaned his burning cheek upon them. 'My sight is confused,' said he, 'my breathing is opprest; I hear nothing, my veins swell, a palpitation seizes my heart, and I scarcely know where I am, or whether I exist!'