But, now that I am here, what's to come of it? It's not so
hard to put on a long face, and prose in scripture dialect; but,
cui bono? Let me see--hem! The girl is pretty, devilish pretty--with
such an eye, and looks so! There's soul in the wench--life--and
a passion that speaks out in every glance and movement. A very
Cressid, with a cross of Corinne! Should she be like her of Troy?
At all events, it can do no harm to see what she's made of!
"But I must manage warily. I have something to lose in the business.
Frankfort is but fifty miles from Charlemont--fifty miles--and
there's Ellisland, but fourteen. Fourteen!--an easy afternoon ride.
That way it must be done. Ellisland shall be my post-town. I can
gallop there in an afternoon, drop and receive my letters, and be
back by a round-about which shall effectually baffle inquiry. A
week or two will be enough. I shall see, by that time, what can be
done with her; though still, cautiously, Parson Stevens!--cautiously."
The farther cogitations of Stevens were subordinate to these, but
of the same family complexion.
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