She sat down upon the prostrate trunk of a tree, and surrendered
herself for a while to their control. Her thoughts were probably of
a kind which, to a certain extent, are commended to every maiden.
Among them, perpetually rose an image of the bold and handsome
stranger, whose impudence, in turning back in pursuit of her,
was somewhat qualified by the complimentary curiosity which such
conduct manifested. Predominant even over this image, however, was
the conviction of isolation which she felt where she was, and the
still more painful conviction, that the future was without promise.
Such thoughts and apprehensions may be natural enough to all young
persons of active, earnest nature, not permitted to perform; but
in the bosom of Margaret Cooper they were particularly so. Her mind
was of a masculine and commanding character, and was ill-satisfied
with her position and prospect in Charlemont. A quiet, obscure
village, such as that we have described, held forth no promise for
a spirit so proud, impatient, and ambitious as hers. She knew the
whole extent of knowledge which it contained, and all its acquisitions
and resources--she had sounded its depths, and traced all its
shallows. The young women kept no pace with her own progress--they
were good, silly girls enough--a chattering, playful set, whom
small sports could easily satisfy, and who seemed to have no care,
and scarce a hope, beyond the hilly limits of their homestead; and
as for the young men--they were only suited to the girls, such as
they were, and could never meet the demand of such an intellect as
hers.

This lofty self-estimate, which was in some sense just, necessarily
gave a tone to her language and a coloring to all her thoughts,
such as good sense and amiability should equally strive to suppress