Gaze not on the star, dear, generous friend," I cried, "read not love in

its trembling rays; look not upon distant worlds; speak not of the mere

imagination of a sentiment. I have long been silent; long even to sickness

have I desired to speak to you, and submit my soul, my life, my entire

being to you. Look not on the star, dear love, or do, and let that eternal

spark plead for me; let it be my witness and my advocate, silent as it

shines--love is to me as light to the star; even so long as that is

uneclipsed by annihilation, so long shall I love you."

Veiled for ever to the world's callous eye must be the transport of that

moment. Still do I feel her graceful form press against my full-fraught

heart--still does sight, and pulse, and breath sicken and fail, at the

remembrance of that first kiss. Slowly and silently we went to meet Adrian,

whom we heard approaching.

I entreated Adrian to return to me after he had conducted his sister home.

And that same evening, walking among the moon-lit forest paths, I poured

forth my whole heart, its transport and its hope, to my friend. For a

moment he looked disturbed--"I might have foreseen this," he said, "what

strife will now ensue! Pardon me, Lionel, nor wonder that the expectation

of contest with my mother should jar me, when else I should delightedly

confess that my best hopes are fulfilled, in confiding my sister to your

protection. If you do not already know it, you will soon learn the deep

hate my mother bears to the name Verney. I will converse with Idris; then

all that a friend can do, I will do; to her it must belong to play the

lover's part, if she be capable of it."

106

The Last Man