If I am to be Mr.Hattersley's wife, I must try to love him; and I do try with all my might; but I have made very little progress yet; and the worst symptom of the case is, that the further he is from me the better I like him: he frightens me with his abrupt manners and strange hectoring ways, and I dread the thoughts of marrying him.

"Then why have you accepted him ?" you will ask; and I didn't know I had accepted him; but mamma tells me I have, and he seems to think so too.

I certainly didn't mean to do so; but I did not like to give him a flat refusal, for fear mamma should be grieved and angry (for I knew she wished me to marry him), and I wanted to talk to her first about it: so I gave him what I thought was an evasive, half negative answer; but she says it was as good as an acceptance, and he would think me very capricious if I were to attempt to draw back--and indeed I was so confused and frightened at the moment, I can hardly tell what I said.

And next time I saw him, he accosted me in all confidence as his affianced bride, and immediately began to settle matters with mamma.

I had not courage to contradict them then, and how can I do it now?
I cannot; they would think me mad.