Pleased with the
fancy that she herself was the object sought, she did not perceive
how enormous was the sort of deception which the stranger had
employed to attain the end desired. With all her intellect she had
not the wisdom to suspect that he who could so readily practise so
bold an hypocrisy, was capable of the worst performances; and when
their names were mentioned, and his eyes were permitted to meet
and mingle their glances with hers, she was conscious of nothing
farther than a fluttering sentiment of pleasure, which was amply
declared to the stranger, in the flash of animation which spoke
openly in her countenance; eye speaking to lip and cheek, and
these, in turn, responding with a kindred sentiment to the already
tell-tale eye.
William Hinkley, from a little distance, beheld this meeting. He
had lingered with the curiosity which belongs to the natural
apprehension of the lover. He saw them approach--nay, fancied
he beheld the mutual expression of their sympathizing eyes, and
he turned away, and hurried homeward, with the feeling of a heart
already overborne, and defrauded in all its hopes and expectations.
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