Heaven forbid that I should bring a solitary grief to your bosom; yet it may adventure in some respects both mind and person, if you be not wary.

Knowing your father, as you know him too, I would have from you a pledge--a promise, here, solemnly uttered in the eye of Heaven, and in the holy stillness of this place, which has witnessed other of our vows no less sacred and solemn, that, should he sanction the prayer of another who seeks your love, and command your obedience, that you will not obey--that you will not go quietly a victim to the altar--that you will not pledge to another the same vow which has been long since pledged to me." He paused a moment for a reply, but she spoke not; and with something like impetuosity he proceeded:-- "You make no reply, Katharine?
You hear my entreaty--my prayer.

It involves no impropriety; it stands in the way of no other duty, since, I trust, the relationship between us is as binding as any other which may call for your regard.

All that I ask is, that you will not dispose of yourself to another, your heart not going with your hand, whatever may be the authority which may require it; at least, not until you are fully assured that it is beyond my power to claim you, or I become unworthy to press the claim." "It is strange, Mark, that you should speak in a manner of which there is so little need.

The pledge long since uttered as solemnly as you now require, under these very boughs, should satisfy you." "So it should, Kate--and so it would, perhaps, could I now reason on any subject.