@ (Q) 
THE CORAL RING. 217 
in this interview, that opened to him entirely a 
new view of her character. 
" No, Miss Elmore," said he, earnestly, after 
some pause ; " I may be pained offended I cannot 
be. To tell the truth, I have been thoughtless, ex- 
cited, dazzled ; my spirits, naturally buoyant, have 
carried me, often, too far ; and lately I have often 
painfully suspected my own powers of resistance ; 
I have really felt that I needed help, but have 
been too proud to confess, even to myself, that I 
needed it. You, Miss Elmore, have done what, 
perhaps, no one else could have done. I am over- 
whelmed with gratitude, and I shall bless you for it 
to the latest day of my life. I am ready to pledge 
myself to any thing you may ask on this subject." 
" Then," said Florence, " do not shrink from do- 
ing what is safe, and necessary, and right for you 
to do, because you have once said you would not 
do it. You understand me." 
" Precisely," replied Elliot, " and you shall be 
obeyed." 
It was not more than a week before the news 
was circulated that even George Elliot had signed 
the pledge of temperance. There was much won- 
dering at this sudden turn among those who had 
known his litter repugnance to any measure of 
the kind, and the extent to which he had yielded 
to temptation ; but few knew how fine and deli- 
cate had been the touch to which his pride had 
yieiaed. -^i^^^ n 3 stowe. 
