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Mr Gregory's attentions had beconified and steadfast, and I received them with a certain calm pleasure They had not, as yet, reached the point of declaration, but it was clear toabout the ht had reached the point of acceptance I had the greatest respect for hireeable to one another The position he had to offer nified, desirable one, as he was not only a rity, but also ain favor of the alliance, and I looked upon it quietly, but with a sense of substantial, and steadfast coe cannot even in prospect, face a thoughtful woory was that type of ht not to be allowed to offer himself in a direction where there was no intention of acceptance, for his character and age--he was fifty or ave one the assurance that any nificant My acquaintance with hi this period there had been abundant opportunity, on both sides, for study of character

In a quiet way, I had been arranging e in manner of life I had, as athis time I had experienced none of the rapture always associated with a romantic attachment, but I was quietly happy, and this condition was a far more natural one for me, withone, in respect to future enjoy more ecstatic

I had seen but little of Mr Chance for some weeks He had called several times, but on each of these occasions, we had passed a so Just why this constraint should have crept into our intercourse e see than heretofore, and were beginning to enjoy a warree of friendship than we had known, I could not understand; but its presence was undeniable, and it spoiled everything forht of a bore, rather than as a pleasure, as I once had done Occasionally a ry, cruel waves gathered like wolves about me, would flit across my mind, as a shadowwhile I found ht, and this, and the memory of his touch, as he lifted me off the pier, would dim the sunshine of my cheerfulness I could not have explained this to ht; whether from disinclination, or from fear, I could not tell I only knew that I always turned fro ory It was quite easy to plan in this direction, for there was nothing uncertain, as there ory was fixed in his tastes, and way of life; I, too, at e, had formed settled habits, and this he knew; but, fortunately, in most directions, ere in harmony, and where ere not, we had fallen into a way ofcertain concessions