could give convincing reasons, no doubt'--

Here again she wept; took a turn across the room; then returned--Read on,
says she--

Will you, my dearest life, read it yourself?

I will take the letter with me, by-and-by--I cannot see to read it just
now, wiping her eyes--read on--let me hear it all--that I may know your
sentiments upon this letter, as well as give my own.

'The Captain then told uncle John the reasons that induced me to give out
that we were married; and the conditions on which my beloved was brought
to countenance it; which had kept us at the most punctilious distance.

'But still Mr. Harlowe objected my character. And went away
dissatisfied. And the Captain was also so much concerned, that he cared
not to write what the result of his first conference was.

'But in the next, which was held on receipt of the draughts, at the
Captain's house, (as the former was, for the greater secrecy,) when the
old gentleman had read them, and had the Captain's opinion, he was much
better pleased. And yet he declared, that it would not be easy to
persuade any other person of his family to believe so favourably of the
matter, as he was now willing to believe, were they to know that we had
lived so long together unmarried.

'And then the Captain says, his dear friend made a proposal:--It was
this--That we should marry out of hand, but as privately as possible, as
indeed he found we intended, (for he could have no objection to the