his return. Not that he himself needed a second glance to convince
him of that loveliness which, in his wilfulness, he yet denied.
He was free to acknowledge to himself that Margaret Cooper was one
of the noblest and most impressive beauties he had ever seen. The
very scorn that spoke in all her features, the imperious fires that
kindled in her eyes, were better calculated than any more gentle
expressions, to impose upon one who was apt to be skeptical on the
subject of ordinary beauties. The confidence and consciousness of
superiority, which too plainly spoke out in the features of Margaret,
seemed to deny to his mind the privilege of doubting or discussing
her charms--a privilege upon which no one could have been more apt
to insist than himself. This seeming denial, while it suggested to
him ideas of novelty, provoked his curiosity and kindled his pride.
The haughty glance with which she encountered his second approach,
aroused his vanity, and a latent desire arose in his heart, to
overcome one who had shown herself so premature in her defiance.
We will not venture to assert that the young traveller had formed
any very deliberate designs of conquest, but, it may be said, as well
here as elsewhere, that his self-esteem was great; and accustomed
to easy conquests among the sex, in the region where he dwelt, it
was only necessary to inflame his vanity, to stimulate him to the
exercise of all his arts.

It was about noon, on one of those bright, balmy days, early in
October, when "the bridal of the earth and sky," in the language of
the good old Herbert, is going on--when, the summer heats subdued,
there is yet nothing either cold, or repulsive in the atmosphere;
and the soft breathing from the southwest has just power enough to
stir the flowers and disperse their scents; that our young traveller
was joined in his progress towards Charlemont, by a person mounted