the same time with no little veneration for those superior gifts
of mind and education which, it was the general conviction in
Charlemont, that she possessed, became, at length, discouraged in a
pursuit which hitherto had found nothing but coldness and repulse.
Not that he ceased to love--nay, he did not cease entirely
to hope. What lover ever did? He fondly ascribed to the object of
his affections a waywardness of humor, which he fancied would pass
away after a season, and leave her mind to the influence of a more
sober and wholesome judgment. Perhaps, too, like many other youth
in like circumstances, he did not always see or feel the caprice
of which he was the victim. But for this fortunate blindness, many
a fair damsel would lose her conquest quite as suddenly as it was
made.

But the summer passed away, and the forest put on the sere and
sombre robes of autumn, and yet no visible change--none at least
more favorable to the wishes of William Hinkley--took place in the
character and conduct of the maiden. Her mind, on the contrary,
seemed to take something of its hue from the cold sad tones of the
forest. The serious depth of expression in her dark eyes seemed
to deepen yet more, and become yet more concentrated--their glance
acquired a yet keener intentness--an inflexibility of direction--which
suffered them seldom to turn aside from those moody contemplations,
which had made her, for a long time, infinitely prefer to gaze upon
the rocks, and woods, and waters, than upon the warm and wooing
features of humanity.

At distance the youth watched and sometimes followed her, and
when, with occasional boldness, he would draw nigh to her secret
wanderings, a cold fear filled his heart, and he shrunk back with