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184 Week after week passed away, and there seemed to be no prospect that any thing would occur to free Jane from the very unpleasant situation in which her aunt's accusations had placed her. Erskine became restless and impatient, derided all Jane's arguments in favour of delaying their marriage, and finally affected to distrust her affection for him. If the undefined, and undefinable sentiment which was compounded in Jane's heart of youthful preference and gratitude, was not love, Jane believed it was, and she at last yielded a reluctant consent, that the marriage should take place at the end of three months, even though nothing should occur to release her from her aunt's power.

It was a few days after this promise had been given, that as she was one day returning from her school, Erskine joined her.—"Your friend Robert Lloyd," said he, "has taken a mighty fancy to me of late, I cannot conceive what is the reason of it."

Jane blushed, for she thought he might have guessed the reason. "I am glad of it," she replied, "for he seems to have withdrawn his friendship from me, and you are the only person, Edward, to whom I should be resigned to have it transferred."

"Ah, Jane! you need not be alarmed; he and I should never mix, any more than oil and vinegar."

"I am sorry for that; but which is the oil, and which the vinegar?"