"Is not that your idea also?" said he,—"some one to love; is not that the great desideratum here below!" And the tone in which he repeated the last words was by no means ineffective.
"I hope everybody has that," said she.
"I fear not; not anyone to love with a perfect love. Who does Miss Todd love?"
"Miss Baker."
"Does she? And yet they live apart, and rarely see each other. They think differently on all subjects. That is not the love of which I am speaking. And you, Miss Mackenzie, are you sure that you love anyone with that perfect all-trusting, love?"
"I love my niece Susanna best," said she.
"Your niece, Susanna! She is a sweet child, a sweet girl; she has everything to make those love her who know her; but—"
"You don't think anything amiss of Susanna, Mr Maguire?"
"Nothing, nothing; Heaven forbid, dear child! And I think so highly of you for your generosity in adopting her."
"I could not do less than take one of them, Mr Maguire."