As we drove along, leaning against the back of the carriage, my hand happened to touch that of Susannah, which lay beside her on the cushion, I could not resist taking it in mine, and it was not withdrawn.  What my thoughts were, the reader may imagine; Susannah’s I cannot acquaint him with; but in that position we remained in silence until the carriage stopped at Cophagus’s door.  I handed Susannah out of the carriage, and went up stairs for a few moments.  Mrs Cophagus and her husband were out.

“Susannah, this is very kind of you, and I return you my thanks.  I never felt more happy than when seated with you in that carriage.”

“I have received both amusement and instruction, Japhet, and ought to thank you.  Do you know what passed in my mind at one time?”

“No—­tell me.”

“When I first knew you, and you came among us, I was, as it were, the guide, a presumptuous one perhaps to you, and you listened to me—­now it is reversed—­now that we are removed and in the world, it is you that are the guide, and it is I who listen and obey.”

“Because, Susannah, when we first met I was much in error, and had thought too little of serious things, and you were fit to be my guide:  now we are mixing in the world, with which I am better acquainted than yourself.  You then corrected me, when I was wrong:  I now point out to you where you are not rightly informed:  but, Susannah, what you have learnt of me is as nought compared with the valuable precepts which I gained from your lips—­precepts which, I trust, no collision with the world will ever make me forget.”

“Oh!  I love to hear you say that; I was fearful that the world would spoil you, Japhet; but it will not—­will it?”

“Not so long as I have you still with me, Susannah:  but if I am obliged to mix again with the world, tell me, Susannah, will you reject me?—­will you desert me?—­will you return to your own people and leave me so exposed?  Susannah, dearest, you must know how long, how dearly I have loved you:—­you know that, if I had not been sent for and obliged to obey the message, I would have lived and died content with you.  Will you not listen to me now, or do you reject me?”

I put my arm round her waist, her head fell upon my shoulder, and she burst into tears.  “Speak, dearest, this suspense is torture to me,” continued I.

“I do love you, Japhet,” replied she at last, looking fondly at me through her tears; “but I know not whether this earthly love may not have weakened my affection towards Heaven.  If so, may God pardon me, for I cannot help it.”  After this avowal, for a few minutes, which appeared seconds, we were in each other’s arms, when Susannah disengaged herself.

“Dearest Japhet, thy father will be much displeased.”  “I cannot help it,” replied I, “I shall submit to his displeasure.”

“Nay, but, Japhet, why risk thy father’s wrath?”

“Well, then,” replied I, attempting to reach her lips, “I will go.”