to love and possess her as his own. He begged
to know if his affections were reciprocated, or
could be; if she would permit him to write to
her; if she was free from all obligation to
another.

"What would mother say?" queried Jane, as
she received the letter from her aunt.

"Not much to comfort you."

"Now, aunt, George is just such a man as I
could really love, I think, from all I have seen
of him; you know I never could say that of
Henry"--

"Then don't marry him," interrupted Aunt
Abby.

"Mother will make me."

"Your father won't."

"Well, aunt, what can I do? Would you
answer the letter, or not?"

"Yes, answer it. Tell him your situation."

"I shall not tell him all my feelings."