persecution now. Thou hast done bravely, excellently. And now, away
to Dorothy, and call up the old sluggard; we must have a substantial
breakfast, after a night of confusion and a morning of joy, and
thy hand will be needed to prepare for us some of these delicate
cakes which no one can make but thyself; and well hast thou a right
to the secret, seeing who taught it thee. Ah! health to the soul
of thy dearest mother," he added, with a sigh; "how blythe would
she have been to see this happy St. Valentine's morning!"

Catharine took the opportunity of escape which was thus given her,
and glided from the room. To Henry it seemed as if the sun had
disappeared from the heaven at midday, and left the world in sudden
obscurity. Even the high swelled hopes with which the late incident
had filled him began to quail, as he reflected upon her altered
demeanour--the tears in her eyes, the obvious fear which occupied
her features, and the pains she had taken to show, as plainly as
delicacy would permit, that the advances which she had made to him
were limited to the character with which the rites of the day had
invested him. Her father looked on his fallen countenance with
something like surprise and displeasure.

"In the name of good St. John, what has befallen you, that makes you
look as grave as an owl, when a lad of your spirit, having really
such a fancy for this poor girl as you pretend, ought to be as
lively as a lark?"

"Alas, father!" replied the crestfallen lover, "there is that
written on her brow which says she loves me well enough to be my
Valentine, especially since you wish it, but not well enough to be
my wife."