pride in the attachment of the redoubted Henry Gow as a lady of
romance may be supposed to have in the company of a tame lion, who
follows to provide for and defend her. It was with sentiments of
the most sincere gratitude that she recollected, as she awoke at
dawn, the services of Henry during the course of the eventful night,
and the first thought which she dwelt upon was the means of making
him understand her feelings.

Arising hastily from bed, and half blushing at her own purpose
--"I have been cold to him, and perhaps unjust; I will not be
ungrateful," she said to herself, "though I cannot yield to his
suit. I will not wait till my father compels me to receive him
as my Valentine for the year: I will seek him out, and choose him
myself. I have thought other girls bold when they did something
like this; but I shall thus best please my father, and but discharge
the rites due to good St. Valentine by showing my gratitude to this
brave man."

Hastily slipping on her dress, which, nevertheless, was left a good
deal more disordered than usual, she tripped downstairs and opened
the door of the chamber, in which, as she had guessed, her lover
had passed the hours after the fray. Catharine paused at the door,
and became half afraid of executing her purpose, which not only
permitted but enjoined the Valentines of the year to begin their
connexion with a kiss of affection. It was looked upon as a peculiarly
propitious omen if the one party could find the other asleep, and
awaken him or her by performance of this interesting ceremony.

Never was a fairer opportunity offered for commencing this mystic
tie than that which now presented itself to Catharine. After many