Page:The Wanderer (1814 Volume 1).pdf/409

This page has been validated.

(377)

lities! how powerful is her mind! how sportive her fancy! and how noble is her superiority to every species of art or artifice!"

"Yet, with all this," said Ellis, looking at him expressively, "with all this . . ." she knew not how to proceed; but he saw her meaning. "With all this," he said, "you are surprised, perhaps, that I should look for other qualities, other virtues in her whom I should aspire to make the companion of my life? I beseech you, however, to believe, that neither insolence nor ingratitude makes me insensible to her worth; but, though it often meets my admiration, sometimes my esteem, and always my good will and regard, it is not of a texture to create that sympathy without which even friendship is cold. I have, indeed, . . . . till now . . . ."

He paused.

"Poor, poor Miss Joddrel!" exclaimed Ellis, "If you could but have heard,—or if I knew but how to repeat, even