“O no! I am not angry with you, Peter; far from it. It is very complimentary to me—what you have just said.”
“I am aware,” continued I, “that at present I have little to offer you—indeed, nothing. I am not even such a match as your father might approve of; but you know my whole history, and what my desires are.”
“My dear father loves me, Peter, and he loves you too, very much—he always did, from the hour he saw you—he was so pleased with your candour and honesty of character. He has often told me so, and very often talked of you.”
“Well, Celeste, tell me, may I, when far away, be permitted to think of you, and indulge a hope that some day we may meet never to part again?” And I took Celeste by the hand, and put my arm round her waist.
“I don’t know what to say,” replied she, “I will speak to my father, or perhaps you will; but I will never marry anybody else if I can help it.”
I drew her close to me, and kissed her. Celeste burst into tears, and laid her head upon my shoulder. When General O’Brien came in, I did not attempt to move, nor did Celeste.
“General,” said I, “you may think me to blame, but I have not been able to conceal what I feel for Celeste. You may think that I am imprudent, and that I am wrong in thus divulging what I ought to have concealed, until I was in a situation to warrant my aspiring to your daughter’s hand; but the short time allowed me to be in her company, the fear of losing her, and my devoted attachment, will, I trust, plead my excuse.”
The general took one or two turns up and down the room, and then replied—“What says Celeste?”
“Celeste will never do anything to make her father unhappy,” replied she, going up to him and hiding her face in his breast, with her arm round his neck.
The general kissed his daughter, and then said, “I will be frank with you, Mr Simple. I do not know any man whom I would prefer to you as a son-in-law; but there are many considerations which young people are very apt to forget. I do not interfere in your attachment, which appears to be mutual; but at the same time, I will have no promise, and no engagement. You may never meet again. However, Celeste is very young, and I shall not put any constraint upon her; and at the same time you are equally free, if time and circumstances should alter your present feelings.”