become　fair。　　Then；　indeed；　he　departed；　after　taking
  leave　of　the　Pathfinder；　in　the　manner　of　one　who　believed
  he　was　in　company　of　a　distinguished　character　for　the
  last　time。　　The　two　separated　like　those　who　respect　one
  another；　while　each　felt　that　the　other　was　all　enigma　to
  himself。
  CHAPTER　XXIX。
  Playful　she　turn'd　that　he　might　see
  The　passing　smile　her　cheek　put　on；
  But　when　she　marked　how　mournfully
  His　eyes　met　hers；　that　smile　was　gone。
  _Lalla　Rookh。_
  The　occurrences　of　the　last　few　days　had　been　too　ex…
  citing；　and　had　made　too　many　demands　on　the　fortitude
  of　our　heroine；　to　leave　her　in　the　helplessness　of　grief。
  She　mourned　for　her　father；　and　she　occasionally　shud…
  dered　as　she　recalled　the　sudden　death　of　Jennie；　and　all
  the　horrible　scenes　she　had　witnessed；　but　on　the　whole
  she　had　aroused　herself；　and　was　no　longer　in　the　deep
  depression　which　usually　accompanies　grief。　　Perhaps　the
  overwhelming；　almost　stupefying　sorrow　that　crushed　poor
  June；　and　left　her　for　nearly　twenty…four　hours　in　a　state
  of　stupor；　assisted　Mabel　in　conquering　her　own　feelings；
  for　she　had　felt　called　on　to　administer　consolation　to　the
  young　Indian　woman。　　This　she　had　done　in　the　quiet；
  soothing；　insinuating　way　in　which　her　sex　usually　exerts
  its　influence　on　such　occasions。
  The　morning　of　the　third　day　was　set　for　that　on　which
  the　_Scud_　was　to　sail。　　Jasper　had　made　all　his　prepara…
  tions；　the　different　effects　were　embarked；　and　Mabel　had
  taken　leave　of　June；　a　painful　and　affectionate　parting。　　In
  a　word；　all　was　ready；　and　every　soul　had　left　the　island
  but　the　Indian　woman；　Pathfinder；　Jasper；　and　our　hero…
  ine。　　The　former　had　gone　into　a　thicket　to　weep；　and　the
  three　last　were　approaching　the　spot　where　three　canoes
  lay；　one　of　which　was　the　property　of　June；　and　the　other
  two　were　in　waiting　to　carry　the　others　off　to　the　_Scud_。
  Pathfinder　led　the　way；　but；　when　he　drew　near　the　shore；
  instead　of　taking　the　direction　to　the　boats；　he　motioned
  to　his　companions　to　follow；　and　proceeded　to　a　fallen　tree
  which　lay　on　the　margin　of　the　glade　and　out　of　view　of
  those　in　the　cutter。　　Seating　himself　on　the　trunk；　he
  signed　to　Mabel　to　take　her　place　on　one　side　of　him　and
  to　Jasper　to　occupy　the　other。
  〃Sit　down　here　Mabel；　sit　down　there；　Eau…douce；〃　he
  commenced；　as　soon　as　he　had　taken　his　own　seat。　　〃I've
  something　that　lies　heavy　on　my　mind；　and　now　is　the
  time　to　take　it　off；　if　it's　ever　to　be　done。　　Sit　down；　Mabel；
  and　let　me　lighten　my　heart；　if　not　my　conscience；　while
  I've　the　strength　to　do　it。〃
  The　pause　that　succeeded　lasted　two　or　three　minutes；　and
  both　the　young　people　wondered　what　was　to　come　next；
  the　idea　that　Pathfinder　could　have　any　weight　on　his　con…
  science　seeming　equally　improbable　to　each。
  〃Mabel；〃　our　hero　at　length　resumed；　〃we　must　talk
  plainly　to　each　other　afore　we　join　your　uncle　in　the　cut…
  ter；　where　the　Saltwater　has　slept　every　night　since　the
  last　rally；　for　he　says　it's　the　only　place　in　which　a　man
  can　be　sure　of　keeping　the　hair　on　his　head；　he　does。　　Ah's
  me！　what　have　I　to　do　with　these　follies　and　sayings　now？
  I　try　to　be　pleasant；　and　to　feel　light…hearted；　but　the　power
  of　man　can't　make　water　run　up　stream。　　Mabel；　you　know
  that　the　Sergeant；　afore　he　left　us；　had　settled　it　'atween
  us　two　that　we　were　to　become　man　and　wife；　and　that　we
  were　to　live　together　and　to　love　one　another　as　long　as
  the　Lord　was　pleased　to　keep　us　both　on　'arth；　yes；　and
  afterwards　too？〃
  Mabel's　cheeks　had　regained　a　little　of　their　ancient
  bloom　in　the　fresh　air　of　the　morning；　but　at　this　un…
  looked…for　address　they　blanched　again；　nearly　to　the　pal…
  lid　hue　which　grief　had　imprinted　there。　　Still；　she　looked
  kindly；　though　seriously；　at　Pathfinder　and　even　endeav…
  ored　to　force　a　smile。
  〃Very　true；　my　excellent　friend；〃　she　answered；　〃this
  was　my　poor　father's　wish；　and　I　feel　certain　that　a　whole
  life　devoted　to　your　welfare　and　comforts　could　scarcely
  repay　you　for　all　you　have　done　for　us。〃
  〃I　fear　me；　Mabel；　that　man　and　wife　needs　be　bound
  together　by　a　stronger　tie　than　such　feelings；　I　do。　　You
  have　done　nothing　for　me；　or　nothing　of　any　account；　and
  yet　my　very　heart　yearns　towards　you；　it　does；　and　there…
  fore　it　seems　likely　that　these　feelings　come　from　some…
  thing　besides　saving　scalps　and　guiding　through　woods。〃
  Mabel's　cheek　had　begun　to　glow　again；　and　though　she
  struggled　hard　to　smile；　her　voice　trembled　a　little　as　she
  answered。
  〃Had　we　not　better　postpone　this　conversation；　Path…
  finder？〃　she　said；　〃we　are　not　alone；　and　nothing　is　so
  unpleasant　to　a　listener；　they　say；　as　family　matters　in
  which　he　feels　no　interest。〃
  〃It's　because　we　are　not　alone；　Mabel；　or　rather　because
  Jasper　is　with　us；　that　I　wish　to　talk　of　this　matter。　　The
  Sergeant　believed　I　might　make　a　suitable　companion　for
  you；　and；　though　I　had　misgivings　about　it；　　yes；　I　had
  many　misgivings；　　he　finally　persuaded　me　into　the　idee；
  and　things　came　round　'atween　us；　as　you　know。　　But；
  when　you　promised　your　father　to　marry　me；　Mabel；　and
  gave　me　your　hand　so　modestly；　but　so　prettily；　there　was
  one　circumstance；　as　your　uncle　called　it；　that　you　didn't
  know；　and　I've　thought　it　right　to　tell　you　what　it　is；
  before　matters　are　finally　settled。　　I've　often　taken　a　poor
  deer　for　my　dinner　when　good　venison　was　not　to　be
  found；　but　it's　as　nat'ral　not　to　take　up　with　the　worst
  when　the　best　may　be　had。〃
  〃You　speak　in　a　way；　Pathfinder；　that　is　difficult　to　be
  understood。　　If　this　conversation　is　really　necessary；　I
  trust　you　will　be　more　plain。〃
  〃Well　then；　Mabel；　I've　been　thinking　it　was　quite
  likely；　when　you　gave　in　to　the　Sergeant's　wishes；　that　you
  did　not　know　the　natur'　of　Jasper　Western's　feelings
  towards　you？〃
  〃Pathfinder！〃　and　Mabel's　cheek　now　paled　to　the　livid
  hue　of　death；　then　it　flushed　to　the　tint　of　crimson；　and
  her　whole　frame　shuddered。　　Pathfinder；　however；　was　too
  intent　on　his　own　object　to　notice　this　agitation；　and　Eau…
  douce　had　hidden　his　face　in　his　hands　in　time　to　shut　out
  its　view。
  〃I've　been　talking　with　the　lad；　and；　on　comparing　his
  dreams　with　my　dreams；　his　feelings　with　my　feelings；　and
  his　wishes　with　my　wishes；　I　fear　we　think　too　much　alike
  consarning　you　for　both　of　us　to　be　very　happy。〃
  〃Pathfinder；　you　forget；　you　should　remember　that　we
  are　betrothed！〃　said　Mabel　hastily；　and　in　a　voice　so　low
  that　it　required　acute　attention　in　the　listeners　to　catch
  the　syllables。　　Indeed　the　last　word　was　not　quite　intel…
  ligible　to　the　guide；　and　he　confessed　his　ignorance　by　the
  usual；
  〃Anan？〃
  〃You　forget　that　we　are　to　be　married；　and　such　allu…
  sions　are　improper　as　well　as　painful。〃
  〃Everything　is　proper　that　is　right；　Mabel；　and　every…
  thing　is　right　that　leads　to　justice　and　fair　dealing；　though
  it　_is　painful_　enough；　as　you　say；　as　I　find　on　trial；　I　do。
  Now；　Mabel；　had　you　known　that　Eau…douce　thinks　of　you
  in　this　way；　maybe　you　never　would　have　consented　to　be
  married　to　one　as　old　and　as　uncomely　as　I　am。〃
  〃Why　this　cruel　trial；　Pathfinder？　　To　what　can　all　this
  lead？　　Jasper　Western　thinks　no　such　thing：　he　says
  nothing　he　feels　nothing。〃
  〃Mabel！〃　burst　from　out　of　the　young　man's　lips；　in　a
  way　to　betray　the　uncontrollable　nature　of　his　emotions；
  though　he　uttered　not　another　syllable。
  Mabel　buried　her　face　in　both　her　hands；　and　the　two
  sat　like　a　pair　of　guilty　beings；　suddenly　detected　in　the
  commission　of　some　crime　which　involved　the　happiness
  of　a　common　patron。　　At　that　instant；　perhaps；　Jasper
  himself　was　inclined　to　deny　his　passion；　through　an　ex…
  treme　unwillingness　to　grieve　his　friend；　while　Mabel；　on
  whom　this　positive　announcement　of　a　fact　that　she　had
  rather　unconsciously　hoped　than　believed；　came　so　unex…
  pectedly；　felt　her　mind　momentarily　bewildered；　and　she
  scarcely　knew　whether　to　weep　or　to　rejoice。　　Still　she　was
  the　first　to　speak；　since　Eau…douce　could　utter　naught　that
  would　be　disingenuous；　or　that　would　pain　his　friend。
  〃Pathfinder；〃　said　she；　〃you　talk　wildly。　　Why　mention
  this　at　all？〃
  〃Well；　Mabel；　if　I　talk　wildly；　I　_am_　half　wild；　you　know；
  by　natur'；　I　fear；　as　well　as　by　habit。〃　　As　he　said　this；　he
  endeavored　to　laugh　in　his　usual　noiseless　way；　but　the
  effect　produced　a　strange　and　discordant　sound；　and　it
  appeared　nearly　to　choke　him。　　〃Yes；　I　_must_　be　wild；　I'll
  not　attempt　to　deny　it。〃
  〃Dearest　Pathfinder！　my　best；　almost　my　only　friend！
  you　_cannot；　do　not_　think　I　intended　to　say　that！〃　inter…
  rupted　Mabel；　almost　breathless　in　her　haste　to　relieve　his
  mortification。　　〃If　courage；　truth；　nobleness　of　soul　and
  conduct；　unyielding　principles；　and　a　hundred　other　excel…
  lent　qualities　can　render　any　man　respectable；　esteemed；
  or　beloved；　your　claims　are　inferior　to　those　of　no　other
  human　being。〃
  〃What　tender　and　bewitching　voices　they　have；　Jasper！〃
  resumed　the　guide；　now　laughing　freely　and　naturally。
  〃Yes；　natur'　seems　to　have　made　them　on　purpose　to　sing
  in　our　ears；　when　the　music　of　the　woods　is　silent。　　But
  we　must　come　to　a　right　understanding；　we　must。　　I　ask
  you　again；　Mabel；　if　you　had