You have permitted your love for him to be discovered; it becomes your duty to prove it still more clearly." Such were the principal contents of Annie's letter, more than sufficient to confirm Caroline's already half-adopted resolution, and convince her wavering judgment that obedience to her parents was now no longer a duty; their unjust harshness had alienated her from them, and she must stand forth and act alone.

Conscience loudly called on her to desist; that she was deserting the plain path, and entering the labyrinth of deceit, but the words of Annie were before her.

Again and again they were read, till every word became engraved within her, and the spirit they breathed thickened the film before her eyes, and deafened her ear to every loudly-whispered reproach.

Yet in silence and solitude that still small voice, conscience, arose and left its pang, although on the instant banished.
A few days passed, and the conduct of the Viscount to Caroline continued the same as it had been the first night.

Publicly distant, secretly and silently beseeching, with an eloquence few could have resisted.