The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-11-12

| quite clear as to the meaning of his words.
Say an archbishop, Mr.. Slope" said she.
! Poor fellow ! she was very cruel to him. BE
went round again upon his cork, on this allu-
sion to his profession. He tried, however, to
smile, and gently accused her of Joking on a
matter which was, as he said, to him of such
vital moment.
Why, what gulls do you men make of US |"
she replied "How you fool US to the ton of
our bent; and of all men, you clergymen are
the most fluent of your honeyed, careasing
words. Now look me in the face, Mr.. Slope,
boldly and openly"
Mr.. Slope did look at her with languish.
ing, loving eye, aud, as he did so, he again put
forth his hand TO get hold of hers
Il told you to look at me boldly, Mr.. Slope,
but confne your boldness to your eyes,
"Oh Madeline 1" he sighed
swell, my name is Madeline" said she. "but
none except my own family usually call me so.
Now look me in the face Mr. Slope. Am to
understand that you say you love me?"
| Mr.. Slope never said SO. If he had come
there with any formed plan at ALL his intention
was to make love to the lady, without uttering
any such declaration. 1t was, however, quite
impossible that he should now deny his love.
He had therefore to 60 down on his knees dis
tractedly against the sofa, and swear that he
did love her with love passing the love of
man.
| The Signora received the assurance with
very little palpitation or appearance of surprise.
And now answer me another question" said
she: =" When are you to be married to my dear
friend, Eleanor Bold 2"
Poor Mr.. Slope went round and round in
mortal agony. In such condition as his. it
was really very hard for him to know what an
swer to give; and yet no answer would be his
surest condemnation. He might as we'll at
once plead guilty to the charge brought against
him.
And why do you accuse me of such dissim
ulation?" said he.
Discrimination l said nothing of dissim
ulation made no charge against you, and
make none. Pray, don't defend yourself
to me. You swear that you are devoted to
my beauty, and yet you are on the eve of mat
rimony with another. feel this to be rather
compliment. 1t is to Mrs. Bold that You
must defend yourself That you may find diff
cult-unless, indeed, you can keep her in the
dark. You clergymen are cleverer than other
men,"
"Signora, have told you that loved you,
and now you rail at me "
Rail at you God bless the man-what
would he have? Come answer me this at your
lelsure-not without thinking now, but leisure
ly and with consideration. Are you not going
to be married to Mrs. Bold?"
am not" said he /; and as he said it. he
almost hated, with an exquisite hatred, the
woman whom he could not help loving with an
exquisite love-
. But surely you a worshpper of hers ?"
am not" said Mr.. Slope, to whom the
word worsLipper was exceedingly distasteful.
The Signora had conceived that it would be 80.
" wonder at that" said che. Do you not
admire herr To my eye, she is the perfection
OF English beauty Aud then she is rich, too.
should have thought she was just the person
to attract you. Come, Mr.. Slope, let me give
you advice on this matter. Marry the charm
ing widow she will be good mother to YOUR
children, and an excellent mistress of a clergy.
"Oh, Signora, how can you be so crueIr
Cruel !! said she, changing the voice of
banter to one which was expressively earnest
in its tone lis that cruelty2"
"How can love another, while my heart is
entirely your own?"
"If that were cruelty, Mr.. Slope, what might
you cay of me, if | were 10 declare that / re-
turned your passion? What would you think.
if bound you even by lovers oath to do daily
penance at this couch of mine? What can l
give in return for a mans love? All dear
friend, you have not realized the conditions of
my fate"
Mr.. Slope was not on his knees al this time
After his declaration of love, he had risen from
them az quickly as he thought consistent with
the new position which he now filled, and, as
he stood, was leaning on the back of his chair
| This outburst of tenderness on the Signora's
part quite overcame him, and made him feel
for the moment that he could sacrifice every
| thing to be assured of the love of the beautiful
creature before him, manned, lame, and already
married, as she was.
And can | not sympathize with your lot ? 3"
said be, now seating himself on her sofa, and
pushing away the table with his foot.
Sympathy is 80 near to pity" said she. off
you pity me, cripple as / am, shall spurn you
from me
ooh, Madeline, will only love you " And
again he caught her hand, and devoured it
with XII ses. Now she did not draw it from
him, but sat there as he kissed it, locking at
him with her great eyes, just as great spider
would look at great fly that was quite secure
ly caught.
"Suppose Signor Neroni were to come to
Barchester," said she, I" would you make his
acquaintance
"Signor Neroni +" said he.
"Would you introduce him to the bishop,
and Mrs. Proudie, and the young ladies? " said
she, again having recourse to that horrid
quizzing voice which Mr. Slope 30 particularly
hated.
"Why do you ask such question ?" said
he.
because it is necessary that you should
know that there is Signor Neroni l think
you had forgotten it."
"lf | thought that you retained for that
wretch one particle of the love of which he
was never worthy, | would die before / would
distract you by telling you what l feel. No
we're your husband the master of your heart,
might perhaps love you, but you should never
know it."
My heart again how you talk. And you
consider, then, that if a husband be net master
of his wife's heart, he has no right to her feal-
ty; if wife ceases to love, she may cease to
be true. Is that your doctrine on this matter,
as minister Of the church ?"
| Mr.. Slope tried hard within himself to cast off
the pollution with which he felt that he was de
| filing his soul. He strove to tear himself away
from the noxious syren that had bewitched him.
but he could not do it. He could not be again
heart free. He had looked for rapturous Joy in
loving this lovely creature, and he already found
that he met with little but disappointment and
self rebuke. He had come across the fruit of
| the Dead Sea-so sweet and delicious to the
eye, so bitter and nauseous to the taste. He
had put the apple to his mouth, and it had
turned to ashes between his teeth. Yet he
could not tear himself away. He knew he
could not but know, that she jeered at him, rid.
iculed his love, and insulted the weakness Of
his religion. Bat she half permitted his adora-
ton. and that half permission added such fuel
to his fire, that all the fountain of his piety
could not quench it. He began to feel savage,
irriated, and reveDgeful. He meditated some
severity of speech, some taunt that should cut
her, as her taunts cut hin. He reflected, as
he stood there for a moment silent before her,