The most provoking part was, she would often walk with him, ride with him, sit with him alone; she would listen to all his nonsense, and flirt in her turn; and after these interviews he used to return vexed with himself for frittering precious time in folly, and vexed with her for returning it too well. In this way three weeks passed away. During the next few days he fancied he saw a change in Florence: she was less frivolous,--she seemed more quiet; and he could not but connect it in his own mind with his approaching departure, and said to himself, "She has a heart, after all!" Three days only of his tether remained, when, one afternoon, he found himself walking with Florence alone in the shrubberies; he nerved himself up, and determined he would speak his whole mind, and began by asking her "if she remembered what she had told him two years ago?" "Indeed, Mr. Ravensworth, if I remembered all the foolish things I said, I should have enough to do." "Then, Lady Florence, those days are gone. I would I were Johnny Ravensworth again,--could you be the same you were then to me." "I scarcely understand you. I have always been amused at your pleasantries; I have always liked your company,--but you did not, I hope, imagine more." "Oh, Lady Florence, do not say so! Have you, indeed, forgotten all you once said,--how often you promised and vowed affection to me?" "Mr. Ravensworth, I was then a girl, and you were then my playmate. There was no harm, then, in our being so much together, or in all the foolish things we said to each other. We are now nearly grown up; and I hope your good taste will allow, we could not go on as we did then,--why, the world would never let us hear the end of it." "Would God, Lady Florence, I was the same heedless boy again! Oh! to grow beyond our childish loves is surely the bitterest part of life! To be brief,--you love me no more?" "I am grieved to hurt your feelings, Mr. Ravensworth,--I really never dreamed of this! You are a friend,--a near and dear friend,--and shall ever remain so." "Then, all my hopes sink,--all my fondest hopes are crushed! Oh! why did you draw me on only to crush me? Why did you lead me,--why did you encourage me,--only to blight my best affections? It cannot be you have ceased to regard me! Oh, Lady Florence,--dear Lady Florence, have pity on me!" "I shall ever regard you as I have done, and still do, Mr. Ravensworth; no one could feel more sorry than I do. If I have awakened hopes I never dreamed of raising, it will read me a lesson to be more careful in future. I sincerely regret I cannot reciprocate your feelings;--may you meet some one who can, and who will make you happier than Florence de Vere!"