272 THE LEM OX-PLANT. 



overbearing assnmplion. She liad wept al the 

 ihoughl, had prayed over it ; had acknowledged it 

 to her molher, and now look ihe pen lo implore 

 my forgiveness, if such should have been ihe case, 

 A more simple, touching effusion I never perused ; 

 and when 1 had written my assurance that nothnig 

 of the kind, nothing even remotely approaching it 

 had occurred, I sat down to meditate on the im- 

 mense distance lo which the once proud Marie 

 had advanced on the heavenly road, beyond me, 

 who said a thousand peevish things almost daily lo 

 my most indulgent friends, and rarely repented of 

 ihem. 



Another distinguishing feature in lier sweet 

 character, was the perfect absence of egotism. 

 With feelings exquisitely refined, Jshe strugcrled lo 

 conceal their delicate sensiliveness, lest minds of 

 a rougher mould might feel ill at ease in her com- 

 pany. This species of self-denial I have scarce- 

 ly ever seen praciised, except by my beloved 

 Marie ; but in her I have marked it constantly de- 

 veloped. On the same high and generous princi- 

 ple, she concealed her extraordinary altaininenls in 

 science : she was deeply versed in even very ab- 

 struse philosophy, and lier acquaintance with 

 learned languarres was at once extensive and solid. 

 She had books that would have graced the library 

 of a university professor, and used ihem loo, but 

 ihcy wore never sceii 0:1 her table, or her shelves;' 



