"I am no casuist," she said, "and yet it would
appear to be too selfish in me, too much like to
fraud, should I accept all that you offer me, such
vast and personal advantage, and for which I
bring you no equivalent, no dower, no estate;
nothing to counterpoise the wide possessions that
you will inherit; -- nothing that may conciliate your
family, rich in material things and heaped with
honors, -- save my poor love; -- and what were that?"

"More than them all," ejaculated Claude, "but
why these scruples? In human hearts love is not
placed against love, as in the scales the commodity
is placed against the weight; neither is it exchanged
for land, or bartered for position; but it is always
given, and is the donor's whole, unmeasured and
immeasurable. It is infinite, growing whilst it is
being given, even as the horizon grows upon the eye
of him who travels towards it. It _is_ because _it must_
be; it is unselfish; nay, unto itself it is unjust; often
giving the most where it receives the least; possess-
ing nothing, yet possessing all, if it possesses but all
its object's heart. It is towards its object as is the
encircling and cloud-breeding sea unto the verdant
island, encompassing, and in soft showers, shedding
itself over it. As the sea sheds itself in soft showers
upon the island, so do I shed my fondness, and would
shed my fortune, over you, and in return seek for
yourself, -- no more, for what more could you give,
what more could I receive, who count all else as
worthless dross. What hinders then our marriage?"

"Your father," was replied.

"He would not consent unto our nuptials though
I should pray him on my bended knees, so obstinate
and unyielding is his pride," asseverated Claude.

[[78]]

p077 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p078w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p079

v?