“Now, indeed, do I know that you love me, sweetest--dearest girl!” interrupted Charles, experiencing ineffable happiness at the idea of possessing the beauteous Perdita on terms which would not render him ashamed of his connexion. “Yes--yes: I _do_ demand that sacrifice at your hands;--and, if you yield to my wishes in this respect, I shall receive your assent as the most eloquent--the most convincing proof of the attachment you avow! And, moreover, Perdita--dearest, dearest Perdita--I shall be so rejoiced to place a coronet on that fair brow of thine,--so proud to present thee to the world as my wife! Never--never will enraptured husband have experienced a triumph so complete as that which will be mine, when I shall conduct thee--so radiant, so dazzling in thy beauty--amongst the friends whom the declaration of my rank will gather around me,--and when I shall introduce thee, adored one, as the Viscountess Marston! Yes--I shall indeed be proud of thee, my angel;--and now--will you not breathe the word that is to promise me all this triumph and all this joy?--will you not say, ‘_Charles, for thy sake, I will accompany thee to the altar, and wed thee according to the rites of the Protestant Church and the exigences of the community_!’” “Oh! not for another instant can I hesitate, my well beloved--my handsome--my generous Charles!” exclaimed the syren, casting her arms round his neck, and pressing him as if in rapture to her glowing bosom: then, in the sweetest, most dulcet intonations of her melodious voice, she said, “Yes--Charles, for thy sake, I will accompany thee to the altar, and will wed thee according to the rites of the Protestant Church and the usages of that society in which we live!” “Now am I supremely happy!” cried Charles Hatfield, his tone and manner fully corroborating his words. “We will repair to Paris, my beloved Perdita--for there we can be united by the chaplain of the British Embassy without an instant’s unnecessary delay; and thence also can I write to my father, solemnly and formally calling upon him to assert his right to the peerage which he has so long permitted his younger brother to usurp. And in Paris my Perdita will be the cynosure of all interest----” “Oh! yes--let us visit that delightful city of which I have heard so much!” interrupted the young woman, her eyes gleaming resplendently with the pleasing sensations excited by the idea. “But I must now leave you for a moment, to prepare for this sudden journey--as my mother cannot be long before she returns.”