"Oh, for years, and has endured such pain in all parts of her body, that I am astonished her soul has not been put to flight—poor woman!—long since."
"But I have read somewhere that the soul is not in the body, but in the brain—I think Locke says so," said I, becoming learned as the wine inflamed me, and the decanters on the table seemed alternately to multiply and decrease in number.
"I never read Locke," replied Miss Lee, laughing; "but I feel assured that it is in the heart."
"I have no doubt every young beauty supposes so; but if we think long—and thought is the action of the soul—it becomes weary, for the head aches."
"But if we suffer long anxiety, or are in love, does not the heart ache?"
"I do not know—I never was in love. Were you?"
"No; how can you ask me such a question?"
We both blushed furiously now, as a boy and girl might do, and cast down our eyes; then as our hands came in contact, how I knew not, unless it was that Amy searched for the nut-crackers and I hastened to assist her, we both trembled, and were seriously overcome by confusion.
At that moment a clock struck in the hall.
"Heavens," exclaimed Miss Lee, "it is twelve o'clock; we have been conversing, and never reflecting that we cannot stop time."