, 1842-11-26
VOL. H.-NO. A.

she disappeared.
ais it possible hat | am suspected
THAT there are things said of me,
as if were in danger?" we're the
first thoughts that flashed through his
mind. How strange that 4 man may
appear doomed, given up, and lost,
TO The eye of every locker on, before
he begins to suspect himself! This
was the first time that any defined ap-
prehension of loss Of character had
occurred TO Elliot, and he was start.
led as If from a dream.
"What the deuce il the matter
with you Elliot, you look as solemn
as u hearse!" said q young man near
by.
"Has Miss EImore cut your" said
another.
"Come, man, have a glass;" said a
third.
"Let him alone-he's b~ewitched,"
said a fourth; 81 saw the spell laid on
him. None of Us can say but IL
turn may come next"
An hour later, that evening, Flo
renee was talking with her usual spir-
it to a group who were collected a.
round her, when, suddenly looking
up, she saw Elliot, standing in an alb
stracted manner, at one of the win
dows that looked out into the balco-
ny.
"Ho is offended, | dare say," she
thought; Sbut why should | cere!--
For once in my life | have tried to
do a right thing; a good thing; | have
risked giving offence f~orless than this.
many a time" Still, Florence could
not but feel tremulous when, a few
moments after, Elliot approached her
and offered his arm for promenade.
They walked up and down the room,
she talking volubiy, and he answer
ing yes and no, and anything else. ct
cross purposes, till ut length, as if by
accident, he drew her into the 5alco-
ny which overhung the garden. The
moon was shining brightly, and every
thing without, in its placid quietness,
contrasted strangely with the busy,
hurrying scene within.
Miss EImore" said Elliot, abrupt
Iy, "may | ask you sincerely, had
you any design in a remark,you made
to me in the early part Of the even
ing!"
Florence paused, and though ha-
b%itually the most practised and self
possessed of women the color actu-
ally receded from her cheek, as she
answered
"Ycs, Mr.. Elicit must confess
that had
"And is it possible, then, that you
have heard any ,hing7'
Il have heard, Mr.. Elliot, that
which make, me tremble for you, and
for those whose life | know is bound
up in you; and, tell me. were it well,
or friendly III me, TO know that such
things we're said, that such danger
existed and not to VAIN you OF itf'
Elliot stood for 4 few moments in
silence.
.Have | offended" Have taken
too great a liberty?" said Florence,
gently.
Hitherto Elliot had only seen in
Florence the seIfpossessed, assured.
light. hearted woman Of fashion,; but
there was a reality and depth Of feel
ing in the few words she had spoken
to him, in this interview, that opened
to him entirely a new viewi in her
character.
No. Mis-, EImore," said he, earn
esily, after some pause: 81 may be
NAMED, offended | cannot be. To
tell the truth, have been thoughtless,
excited. dazzled; my spirits, natural
~ buoyant. have carried me, often,
too far, and lately, have often pain
fully suspected my powers of
resistance; | have really felt that |
needed help, but have been too proud
10 confess, even to myself, that need
ed it. You, Miss Elmore, have done
what, perhaps, no n else could
have done. am overwhelmed with
gratitude, and | shall bless you for it
to the latest day of my life. am
ready to pledge myself to anything
YOU may ask on this subject"
"Tfen." said Florence, "do not
shrink from doing what is safe and
necessary and right for you to do, be-
cause you have once said you would
not do it. You understand me-"
'.Precisely," replied Elliot, land.
Won shatl be oboyed."
1t was not more than n week be-
fore the news was circulated, that
even George Elliot had signed the
pledge OF temperance. There was
much wondering a; this sudden turn
t,-o,r ill., oh. ANI lrAuo his W