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40 by some secret inclination of her virgin heart. And she even guessed right as to the object, though hitherto she had never suspected the lint merchant from the narrow street to occupy a place in her daughter’s heart. She had looked on him merely as a wild youth, wooing every maiden that came within his view. This discovery, therefore, gave her no pleasure, but she held her peace. According to her strict notions of morality, she thought a maiden who allowed love to enter her heart before marriage, was like a cankered apple, the maggot is within, though it may still look well outside, and serve to adorn a mantle-piece, yet it has lost its value and hastens to destruction. The old lady now despaired of once more regaining her old station in her native city, she resigned herself to her fate, and bore in silence what she thought could not be mended.

The report of Mela’s having refused the rich brewer, soon got abroad, and even reached the ears of Frank, who was overjoyed, for it took away all his fears, that at some time or other a rich suitor might supplant him in Mela’s heart.