CHAPTER XXXII. THE FIRST LETTER.

eheventuredtoriskastepinthematterelsewhere.” “Howdidyoureply?” “Irepliedbriefly,butIdidnotrepulsehim.YetIalmosttrembledforfearofmakingtheanswertoocordial:Graham’stastesaresofastidious.Iwroteitthreetimes—chasteningandsubduingthephrasesateveryrescriptatlast,havingconfectedittillitseemedtometoresembleamorseloficeflavouredwitheversoslightazestoffruitorsugar,Iventuredtosealanddespatchit.” “Excellent,Paulina!YourinstinctisfineyouunderstandDr.Bretton.” “ButhowmustImanageaboutpapa?ThereIamstillinpain.” “Donotmanageatall.Waitnow.Onlymaintainnofurthercorrespondencetillyourfatherknowsall,andgiveshissanction.” “Willheevergiveit?” “Timewillshow.Wait.” “Dr.Brettonwroteoneotherletter,deeplygratefulformycalm,briefnotebutIanticipatedyouradvice,bysaying,thatwhilemysentimentscontinuedthesame,Icouldnot,withoutmyfather’sknowledge,writeagain.” “YouactedasyououghttohavedonesoDr.Brettonwillfeel:itwillincreasehisprideinyou,hisloveforyou,ifeitherbecapableofincrease.Paulina,thatgentlehoar-frostofyours,surroundingsomuchpure,fineflame,isapricelessprivilegeofnature.” “YouseeIfeelGraham’sdisposition,”saidshe.“Ifeelthatnodelicacycanbetooexquisiteforhistreatment.” “Itisperfectlyprovedthatyoucomprehendhim,andthen—whateverDr.Bretton’sdisposition,wereheonewhoexpectedtobemorenearlymet—youwouldstillacttruthfully,openly,tenderly,withyourfather.” “Lucy,ItrustIshallthusactalways.Oh,itwillbepaintowakepapafromhisdream,andtellhimIamnomorealittlegirl!” “Beinnohurrytodoso,Paulina.LeavetherevelationtoTimeandyourkindFate.Ialsohavenoticedthegentlenessofhercaresforyou:doubtnotshewillbenignantlyorderthecircumstances,andfitlyappointthehour.Yes:IhavethoughtoveryourlifejustasyouhaveyourselfthoughtitoverIhavemadecomparisonslikethosetowhichyouadverted.Weknownotthefuture,butthepasthasbeenpropitious. “AsachildIfearedforyounothingthathaslifewasevermoresusceptiblethanyournatureininfancy:underharshnessorneglect,neitheryouroutwardnoryourinwardselfwouldhaveripenedtowhattheynoware.Muchpain,muchfear,muchstruggle,wouldhavetroubledtheverylinesofyourfeatures,brokentheirregularity,wouldhaveharassedyournervesintothefeverofhabitualirritationyouwouldhavelostinhealthandcheerfulness,ingraceandsweetness.Providencehasprotectedandculturedyou,notonlyforyourownsake,butIbelieveforGraham’s.Hisstar,too,wasfortunate:todevelopfullythebestofhisnature,acompanionlikeyouwasneeded:thereyouare,ready.Youmustbeunited.IknewitthefirstdayIsawyoutogetheratLaTerrasse.InallthatmutuallyconcernsyouandGrahamthereseemstomepromise,plan,harmony.Idonotthinkthesunnyyouthofeitherwillprovetheforerunnerofstormyage.Ithinkitisdeemedgoodthatyoutwoshouldliveinpeaceandbehappy—notasangels,butasfewarehappyamongstmortals.Somelivesarethusblessed:itisGod’swill:itistheattestingtraceandlingeringevidenceofEden.Otherlivesrunfromthefirstanothercourse.Othertravellersencounterweatherfitfulandgusty,wildandvariable—breastadversewinds,arebelatedandovertakenbytheearlyclosingwinternight.NeithercanthishappenwithoutthesanctionofGodandIknowthat,amidstHisboundlessworks,issomewherestoredthesecretofthislastfate’sjustice:IknowthatHistreasurescontaintheproofasthepromiseofitsmercy.”