rises before me in all its childish and innocent beauty; when I think of the thousand little acts of kindness—I could almost say tenderness—that escaped from her so unconsciously, I wonder that my heart never took her for its object of imagination and passion. But there is a destiny in all things, and in none more than in love.
"'I shall not detain you long,' said I, as I entered their little parlour. Will you believe me when I say, the uppermost feeling in my mind was distaste at its poor and wretched appearance? The grate smoked, and the thick air was bitter and oppressive to breathe. Drawing the broken china inkstand towards me, I wrote on the back of a letter the assignment of my property (my property!) to Mrs. Cameron. I gave her the paper, and told her that important business forced me to leave London at once; that I could not pay the rent now due, but that the sale of even my few effects would satisfy her claims.
"'You are not going to leave us?' said the woman, on whose memory one or two small services I had rendered her had made a deeper impression than the fear of losing by a lodger so poor as myself. I gave a briefer reply than should have met such kindness, and hurried from the door. As I went down the street, I looked back; Ellen was standing on the steps watching me: she met my eye, and instantly retreated. I caught the last glance of that young and fair face, and felt as if my good angel had
