And was it not his own awkwardness that had brought him to this state of misery?
What right had he to suppose that any girl should fall in love with such a one as he at first sight,--without a moment's notice to her own heart?
And then, when he had her there, almost in his arms, why had he let her go without kissing her?
It seemed to him now that if he might have once kissed her, even that would have been a comfort to him in his present affliction.

"D----tion!" he said at last, as he jumped to his feet and kicked the chair on one side, and threw the pipe among the ashes.

I trust it will be understood that he addressed himself, and not his lady-love in this uncivil way,--"D----tion!" Then when the chair had been well kicked out of his way, he took himself up to bed.

I wonder whether Clara's heart would have been hardened or softened towards him had she heard the oath, and understood all the thoughts and motives which had produced it.
On the next morning poor Mary Belton was too ill to come down-stairs; and as her brother spent his whole day out upon the farm, remaining among reapers and wheat stacks till nine o'clock in the evening, nothing was said about Clara on that day.

Then there came a Sunday, and it was a matter of course that the subject of which they both were thinking should be discussed.