"How!" he exclaimed, in an accent of astonishment and ecstasy well combined. "Have you too been deceived, and my proposals rejected without having been laid before you? Can it be possible? Oh, speak again, my beloved Caroline! tell me I have not been too presuming--that I may hope that my long-cherished visions are not false. You will not, oh, you will not condemn me to misery--you will not reject my heart, and send me despairing from your feet. Caroline, my beloved, my beautiful! say that you will be merciful--say that you love me--that I love not alone; oh, say, promise me you will be mine, and come what will we shall be happy." She heard, and her heart throbbed and her brain reeled; in the infatuation of that moment, all, all was forgotten, save the persuasions of Annie, his pleading eloquence, the wild impulse of her own blinded fancy; the fatal promise passed her lips--she was pledged to be his own. A few minutes she listened to his impassioned thanks, his words of devoted love, then suddenly starting back-- "My father!" she exclaimed, and burst into a passionate flood of tears. "Nay, weep not, my beloved, my own! let not a mere shadow, for such in this instance is duty, alloy the felicity that will be ours. His consent will in time be given; fear not, when he sees you happy, when he sees my only care, my every thought is for your welfare, that his forgiveness for involuntary disobedience will be granted, and his unjust and cruel prejudices against me will pass away, for he will find they were indeed but fancy; and if he continues obdurate, oh, how rejoiced I shall be to have withdrawn my Caroline from his stern guardianship. Already has he deceived you; and can he then expect implicit obedience to unjust and unfounded commands on your part? Cheer up, my best love, fear not; trust to my affection, and all will be well."