“Eliza, my dear, you have always been a kind, dear girl to me, and I have resolved to repay your constancy and devotion by making you my bride in a few days; but first I must demand of you a service, an important service.  Can I depend on you?”

“You know you can; let me know how I can aid you in such a manner as will insure me your hand, and I will serve you unto death.”

“Bravely spoken!  Just what I expected of your devoted love!  But the service I shall require will sorely try that love!”

“Then let me prove its strength.”

“Eliza, do you doubt my truth? my sincerity?”

“Have I not given you stronger proof than a thousand asseverations, or the strongest oaths, that my confidence is unbounded?  Without this trust, I should be wretched beyond endurance!”

“I am glad to hear you talk so.  Still I fear you will not consent to serve me as I shall wish.”

“Try me and see.”

“Are you of a jealous disposition, my love?”

“Jealous?  What a question for you to ask!”

“It may appear strange, yet I would be pleased to have you answer me truly, and without reserve.  Tell me your real sentiments without reserve or disguise.  Much depends thereon.”

“Truly, I cannot say, never having been tried; but I can verily believe that intense hatred would arise in my heart toward one of my sex who would attempt to supplant me in your affections.”

“Suppose I should disregard their efforts, what then?”

“Nothing.  If sure of your attachment, I would care for nothing beside.”

“’Tis well!  But suppose that I should tell you that I once loved another than you?”

“As you love me?”

“No; with a boyish affection, soon forgotten.”

“Then I would care nothing for it.”

“Not if it left an incurable wound?”

“Did it?”

“It did!”

“My God!  How have I been deceived.”

“Don’t be alarmed, my dear, the wound was not in the heart—­it was in pride.”

“How?”

“I was not troubled at heart, but the girl I fancied gave me mortal offense, and I would be revenged!”

“How so?  What is this?  Don’t love, and wish revenge!  Revenge for what?  And that dark frown—­what means all this?”

“Be calm; you are excited; you fear my truth; and where there is no confidence, love soon departs.  I can soon explain all.  In my young days I fell in love with a beautiful girl of my own age; but soon learned that she was not virtuous, and with this knowledge my love changed into desire.  As the least return for my love, to gain which she had recourse to all the wiles and blandishments of a coquette, I wished to possess her for a time; but she spurned me from her presence as she would a dog!  From that hour I have sworn to have my revenge and gain my point.  My hour has now come, and I can accomplish my oath, provided I am secure of one thing.”