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MY COUSIN. 
231 
you don’t think I’d trifle with you — but I never be¬ 
fore tried to test how true were the professions of 
those I loved — if one is thus bitterly deceived, I 
care not to try again;” and half letting go her 
hand, I turned partially away. 
For a second she did not answer, but she looked 
on the ground. Directly a cloud came over the 
moon, and just as the whole room was buried 
in a shadow, I heard a sigh that seemed to come 
from the bottom of my little cousin’s heart; I felt 
a breath like a zephyr steal across my face, and — 
what’s the use of denying it? — I had conquered. 
But a hot drop was on my face ; and as I pressed 
her more warmly than became a cousin, a sudden 
revulsion of feelings came across her, the true 
secret of her delicacy flashed like a sunlight upon 
her mind, and feeling how utterly she had be¬ 
trayed herself, her head fell upon my shoulder, and 
I heard her sob. My heart stung me, — vain, un¬ 
generous sinner that I was, — and I would have 
given worlds to have saved her that one moment 
o 
of agony. But in another instant came the con¬ 
sciousness that I loved her. We spoke no woid, 
we whispered no vow; but* as I felt how pure a 
heart I had won, a gush of holy feeling swept 
across my soul, and putting my arm gently around 
her, I drew her to me as softly as a mother em¬ 
braces her first-born babe. That moment I shall 
never forget. She ceased to sob, but she did not 
* as yet look up. It might have been five minutes, 
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