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Rh chance would lead to the confession of my hoarded love. I invented dialogues, I imagined situations. They grew distinct to me like reality; still the opportunity did not arrive; but its hope was daily renewed, and daily more perfect in its confidence and content.

"I saw little of Lord Avonleigh. I believe he entertained for me the affection of early habit, and would have served me if he could. Our estrangement was my seeking; but I loved him not. I never could forgive his many advantages. Sometimes I wondered at his long residence in Padua; but I cared not enough about it to ask the cause. All society was irksome to me; the commonest exchange of courtesy took me away from the one engrossing thought in which I delighted to indulge. I could keep my attention to the duties of my post,—they were the means of her future possession; but to be distracted by the questions of ordinary discourse was insupportable.

"Forgive me for thus dwelling on this bright and brief period. I need to tell you of the great passion of my love, that in pity for my wretchedness you may somewhat soften my guilt.

"One evening, a discussion with Carrara had detained me unusually late, and Beatrice