"Yes," he said, with all the fascination of his evangelical voice and

manner, "you are a noble creature! A woman who can speak the truth, for

the truth's own sake--a woman who will sacrifice her pride, rather than

sacrifice an honest man who loves her--is the most priceless of all

treasures. When such a woman marries, if her husband only wins her

esteem and regard, he wins enough to ennoble his whole life. You have

spoken, dearest, of your place in my estimation. Judge what that place

is--when I implore you on my knees, to let the cure of your poor wounded

heart be my care. Rachel! will you honour me, will you bless me, by

being my wife?"

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By this time I should certainly have decided on stopping my ears, if

Rachel had not encouraged me to keep them open, by answering him in the

first sensible words I had ever heard fall from her lips.

"Godfrey!" she said, "you must be mad!"

"I never spoke more reasonably, dearest--in your interests, as well

as in mine. Look for a moment to the future. Is your happiness to be

sacrificed to a man who has never known how you feel towards him,

and whom you are resolved never to see again? Is it not your duty to

yourself to forget this ill-fated attachment? and is forgetfulness to be

found in the life you are leading now? You have tried that life, and you

are wearying of it already. Surround yourself with nobler interests than

the wretched interests of the world. A heart that loves and honours you;

a home whose peaceful claims and happy duties win gently on you day by

day--try the consolation, Rachel, which is to be found THERE! I don't

ask for your love--I will be content with your affection and regard. Let

the rest be left, confidently left, to your husband's devotion, and to

Time that heals even wounds as deep as yours."

She began to yield already. Oh, what a bringing-up she must have had!

Oh, how differently I should have acted in her place!

"Don't tempt me, Godfrey," she said; "I am wretched enough and reckless

enough as it is. Don't tempt me to be more wretched and more wreckless

still!"

"One question, Rachel. Have you any personal objection to me?"

"I! I always liked you. After what you have just said to me, I should be

insensible indeed if I didn't respect and admire you as well."

"Do you know many wives, my dear Rachel, who respect and admire their

husbands? And yet they and their husbands get on very well. How many

brides go to the altar with hearts that would bear inspection by the men

who take them there? And yet it doesn't end unhappily--somehow or other

the nuptial establishment jogs on. The truth is, that women try marriage

as a Refuge, far more numerously than they are willing to admit; and,

what is more, they find that marriage has justified their confidence

in it. Look at your own case once again. At your age, and with your

attractions, is it possible for you to sentence yourself to a single

life? Trust my knowledge of the world--nothing is less possible. It

is merely a question of time. You may marry some other man, some years

hence. Or you may marry the man, dearest, who is now at your feet, and

who prizes your respect and admiration above the love of any other woman

on the face of the earth."




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