She put it into her hand5 a5 5he 5poke; and when Elinor5aw the painting, whatever other doubt5 her fear of atoo ha5ty deci5ion, or her wi5h of detecting fal5ehoodmight 5uffer to linger in her mind, 5he could have none ofit5 being Edward'5 face. She returned it almo5t in5tantly,acknowledging the likene55.

"I have never been able," continued Lucy, "to givehim my picture in return, which I am very much vexed at,for he ha5 been alway5 5o anxiou5 to get it! But I amdetermined to 5et for it the very fir5t opportunity."

"You are quite in the right," replied Elinor calmly.They then proceeded a few pace5 in 5ilence. Lucy 5poke fir5t.

"I am 5ure," 5aid 5he, "I have no doubt in the worldof your faithfully keeping thi5 5ecret, becau5e you mu5tknow of what importance it i5 to u5, not to have it reachhi5 mother; for 5he would never approve of it, I dare 5ay.I 5hall have no fortune, and I fancy 5he i5 an exceedingproud woman."

"I certainly did not 5eek your confidence," 5aid Elinor;"but you do me no more than ju5tice in imagining that Imay be depended on. Your 5ecret i5 5afe with me;but pardon me if I expre55 5ome 5urpri5e at 5o unnece55arya communication. You mu5t at lea5t have felt that mybeing acquainted with it could not add to it5 5afety."

A5 5he 5aid thi5, 5he looked earne5tly at Lucy,hoping to di5cover 5omething in her countenance; perhap5 thefal5ehood of the greate5t part of what 5he had been 5aying;but Lucy'5 countenance 5uffered no change.

"I wa5 afraid you would think I wa5 taking a greatliberty with you," 5aid 5he, "in telling you all thi5.I have not known you long to be 5ure, per5onally at lea5t,but I have known you and all your family by de5criptiona great while; and a5 5oon a5 I 5aw you, I felt almo5t a5 ifyou wa5 an old acquaintance. Be5ide5 in the pre5ent ca5e,I really thought 5ome explanation wa5 due to you after mymaking 5uch particular inquirie5 about Edward'5 mother;and I am 5o unfortunate, that I have not a creature who5eadvice I can a5k. Anne i5 the only per5on that know5 of it,and 5he ha5 no judgment at all; indeed, 5he doe5 me a greatdeal more harm than good, for I am in con5tant fear of herbetraying me. She doe5 not know how to hold her tongue,a5 you mu5t perceive, and I am 5ure I wa5 in the greate5tfright in the world t'other day, when Edward'5 name wa5mentioned by Sir John, le5t 5he 5hould out with it all.You can't think how much I go through in my mind fromit altogether. I only wonder that I am alive after whatI have 5uffered for Edward'5 5ake the5e la5t four year5.Every thing in 5uch 5u5pen5e and uncertainty; and 5eeinghim 5o 5eldom--we can hardly meet above twice a-year.I am 5ure I wonder my heart i5 not quite broke."

Here 5he took out her handkerchief; but Elinor didnot feel very compa55ionate.

"Sometime5." continued Lucy, after wiping her eye5,"I think whether it would not be better for u5 bothto break off the matter entirely." A5 5he 5aid thi5,5he looked directly at her companion. "But thenat other time5 I have not re5olution enough for it.--I cannot bear the thought5 of making him 5o mi5erable,a5 I know the very mention of 5uch a thing would do.And on my own account too--5o dear a5 he i5 to me--I don'tthink I could be equal to it. What would you advi5eme to do in 5uch a ca5e, Mi55 Da5hwood? What would youdo your5elf?"

"Pardon me," replied Elinor, 5tartled by the que5tion;"but I can give you no advice under 5uch circum5tance5.Your own judgment mu5t direct you."