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CHAPTER XV.

Love results from contrasts; and the greater they are, the more powerful is its energy.

ST. PIERRE.

IT was on a sentiment analogous to this, that Caroline, though unconscious of its truth and universal impression, seemed to be ruminating, when Harriet Foote, the servant-girl, entered her chamber, saying, "Dr. Marshall is in the drawing-room, and would be happy to see you."

"Bless me," exclaimed the agitated lady, "what can he have more to say

to me?"

She very soon appeared before the doctor; he bowed, she courtesied; and advancing toward her with the most agreeable countenance,

"Miss Caroline, do not take me for your enemy, I am your friend; you are indebted to a young gentleman whose name I'll not now mention, for this intrusion. I waited on him by your father's desire; I had not been a minute in his company when he made me his friend, and I have always been a man of my word; your father I have persuaded to allow you to come to my house, to visit Miss Marshall; there your spirits will be revived."

"I do not exactly understand you, sir."

"Is it the first, or the last part of what I have said, you do not understand?"

"Indeed, sir, the whole is very mysterious; but as you so kindly invite me to pay a visit to my old-school-fellow, I will not say that I shall not do myself that pleasure."

"Well, then, at your own time, Miss

Caroline; this morning we shall all be very glad to see you at the square.'

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The doctor, previously to going home, went again to Charles's apartments, and related his encounter with the admiral, and also the success of his request to Caroline."

"Come, my lad," said the obliging doctor, "remember that climate does not determine us to love, more than to the defence of our king and our country: you northern fellows have the superiority of us in the south, in the excess of all that belongs to the pleasures of sense; but you have also implanted in your hearts the finest honour, and the most extensive virtue. Love, my lad, love is the torrid zone of the human heart, in every country; are the turtle doves of Siberia less amorous than those of Hindostan? are the tigers of Asia less ferocious than the white bears of Nova Zembla ?”

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"But what said the admiral, sir? and Caroline! did you see her?

"I have told you I saw her; now it comes out of itself -you forget things as soon as told you."

"I beg your pardon, doctor, I did not remember exactly what you said at the beginning of your speech; the latter part of it I cannot so easily forget."

"Well then, my brave lieutenant, the dear Caroline is to be at my house this morning; and to make sure of one sight of your prize, come along with me, and you can amuse yourself with my family, till your-I'll not call her enemy, your Caroline heave in sight."

"As you are so good, sir, I shall accompany you; but I am afraid, lest by the admiral discovering the plot, you and he get to odds."

"Don't fear that, Charles; I have shut the old gentleman's mouth, I

think. Don't you know that man, of all the animals which inhabit this earth,' can be made sensible of the existence of a Deity; and who, pray, orders, governs, and attends to the execution of affairs over which we have little or no control? I have no doubt that the admiral sees as I do on this head, I think I have convinced him; so, let's be gone; why it's now two o'clock."

"Doctor, I am very much obliged by your friendship; I do assure you it is more than I expected."

"It is not more than you deserve, lieutenant: the man who is candid with me I shall always esteem; besides, sir, I am not obliged to explain all the motives by which I am actuated in your affair. Ah! my lad, but it's now a long time since I played a more desperate card, before I succeeded in gettingobserve, not in winning- Mrs. Marshall."

VOL. II.

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