they often, for the sake of sport or profit, undertake a good deal that is rash,—­I have resisted them, and would not copy the first letter, as they requested.  They transcribed it in a feigned hand; and, if it is not otherwise, so may they also do with this.  And you, a young man of good family, rich, independent, why will you allow yourself to be used as a tool in a business which can certainly bring no good to you, and may possibly bring much that is unpleasant?  “It made me very happy to hear her speak thus continuously, for generally she introduced but few words into conversation.  My liking for her grew incredibly.  I was not master of myself, and replied, “I am not so independent as you suppose; and of what use is wealth to me, when the most precious thing I can desire is wanting?”

She had drawn my sketch of the poetic epistle towards her, and read it half aloud in a sweet and graceful manner.

“That is very pretty,” said she, stopping at a sort of naive point; “but it is a pity that it is not destined for a real purpose.”—­ “That were indeed very desirable,” I cried; “and, oh! how happy must he be, who receives from a girl he infinitely loves, such an assurance of her affection.”—­“There is much required for that,” she answered, “and yet many things are possible.”—­“For example,” I continued, “if any one who knew, prized, honored, and adored you, laid such a paper before you, what would you do?” I pushed the paper nearer to her, which she had previously pushed back to me.  She smiled, reflected for a moment, took the pen, and subscribed her name.  I was beside myself with rapture, jumped up, and was going to embrace her.  “No kissing!” said she, “that is so vulgar; but let us love if we can.”  I had taken up the paper, and thrust it into my pocket.  “No one shall ever get it,” said I:  “the affair is closed.  You have saved me.”—­“Now complete the salvation,” she exclaimed, “and hurry off, before the others arrive, and you fall into trouble and embarrassment!” I could not tear myself away from her; but she asked me in so kindly a manner, while she took my right hand in both of hers, and lovingly pressed it!  The tears stood in my eyes:  I thought hers looked moist.  I pressed my face upon her hands, and hastened away.  Never in my life had I found myself in such perplexity.

The first propensities to love in an uncorrupted youth take altogether a spiritual direction.  Nature seems to desire that one sex may by the senses perceive goodness and beauty in the other.  And thus to me, by the sight of this girl,—­by my strong inclination for her,—­a new world of the beautiful and the excellent had arisen.  I perused my poetical epistle a hundred times, gazed at the signature, kissed it, pressed it to my heart, and rejoiced in this amiable confession.  But the more my transports increased, the more did it pain me not to be able to visit her immediately, and to see and converse with her again; for I dreaded the reproofs