THE YOUNG CLERGYMAN. 593 



and all for him, without one murmur, without one complaint it was 

 more than even his Christian philosophy could support ; and he wept 

 like a child, as he vowed that his she should be, that he would 

 carry her back as his wife, and that He whose faithful though 

 humble servant he had been, would spare her to his heart. 



" It must be so, Mary ! it shall be so ! fear not, love ! my 

 mother shall be your nurse, and I will be your physician ! Oh ! 

 why why not tell me ! Cruel, and yet noble girl ! but mine you 

 shall be, and we will yet be happy. Smile, my love, as was your 

 wont, and we will hasten back, and all will be well !" 



And Mary did smile as she leaned fondly upon him ; but it was the 

 smile of satisfied faith, not the rapturous look that would have hailed 

 the announcement at an earlier period. Indeed so long had she been 

 in the habit of considering herself doomed to an early and Vestal 

 grave, that now when James in a burst of tenderness clasped her to his 

 heart, and called her his, her emotions were of a holier and loftier 

 character than those excited by merely earthly love. It seemed as if 

 she had won the temple of her wishes, but that her sole hope was to 

 lay down her life as a sacrifice before its shrine. 



On their way homewards Mary's debilitated condition was still 

 more apparent: once and again had she to pause and rest, but 

 James's arm was a grateful support ; and these symptoms of weakness 

 increased ten-fold his anxious desire to put an end to the exhausting 

 conflict of love and prudence, which had already nearly overwhelmed 

 her. Mrs. Jennings, on. being consulted, gave her assent to their 

 immediate union ; and James hastened to the rectory to make pre- 

 parations for his nuptials, which he was determined should be cele- 

 brated on the following day. 



Every consideration had given way before Mary's drooping figure 

 and pale and angel-like countenance. Though not labouring under 

 any specific disease, the withering touch of over-excitement had 

 greatly weakened the springs of life ; and the effect of this upon her 

 outward form had been to give her a delicacy of expression a look 

 so fragile, and yet so lovely, that his heart must have been hard 

 indeed who could have gazed on her unmoved. James, indeed, was 

 sensible only of the decay ; for to him she had been from boyhood 

 pre-eminently beautiful. On retiring for the night, with his un- 

 easiness in some degree quelled by the decisive steps which he had 

 taken, he began to think over the consequences. Much he could see 

 would have to be endured self mingled not in his reflections ; but 

 as these embraced his mother, sister, his wife, and her mother, there 

 was abundance of scope for unquiet thought. He had, however, the 

 consoling thought that he should save the perishing girl, and gratify 

 his long and patiently endured love. 



Morning came, and Mary Jennings became the wife of James 

 Edwards ; and in a few days, by easy journeys, they reached his 

 home, where they were welcomed by his mother and sisters. Mrs. 

 Jennings had accompanied them, so that they were again one family. 

 Love and cheerfulness were diffused through their household ; and all 

 believed, even Mary herself, that her long-anticipated doom had been 

 averted. For some weeks, indeed, she was obviously better : she 

 was happy ; idolised by her husband, loved by all around her, and 



