The Cloister and the Hearth

a bucket into a well of self-deception, and what comes up must be immortal truth, mustn't it? Now, in the first place no son of Adam ever reads his own heart at all, except by the habit acquired

ut a moment's hesitation. "We are going out of curiosity, to know why she jilted us, and to show her it has not broken our hear

the man turned out to be past fifty years of age, an old soldier, whom Gerard remembered to have seen shoot at the butts with admirable force and skill. Another minute and the youth stood before them. Margaret looked up and

Gerard? What on earth b

o I thought I would give you goo

well. He will

s well stay t

into the village and tell my f

ot of

's friends

en make off the moment my back was turned. Cruel Margaret! you little know ho

d for you, sir, at my cousin's, and he would have made much of you, and, who knows, I might have made much of you too.

moment the countess let me

een Hans Cloterman at our table

only a drunken man that

ble? How w

tle heed: in sad

inally, the clouds cleared, and they guessed how the misunderstanding had come about. Then came a revulsion of tenderness, all the more powerful that they had done eac

it like a hawk. MSS. were his delight; but before he could get to it tw

me; so shall my soul meet yours in the sacred page. You will not? Nay, then, I must kiss them away." And he

old in a netw

and found it but even now-and to be caught!" and with a touch of

o-day it is all hidde

ly cap, I'm t

hat it hides

t: it is

s beautiful

beautiful that day"

f arch half coy, and glided about them, and spread supper, and beamed bright with gaiety and happiness. And in the cool evening Gerard coaxed her out, and she objected, and came; and coaxed her on to the road to Tergou and she declined, a

rwent. And at the outset of this deep attachment all went smoothly; obstacles there were, but they seemed distant and small to the eyes of hope, youth and love. The feelings and passions of so many persons, tha

th