Woodward immediately showed himself, and after beckoning to her,
proceeded toward the well. She still paused, however, as if irresolute;
but after one or two significant gestures on his part, she descended
with a slow and apparently a timid step, and in a couple of minutes
stood beside the well. The immediate purport of their conversation
is not essential to this narrative; but, indeed, we presume that our
readers may give a very good guess at it without any assistance from
us. The beautiful girl was young, and credulous, and innocent, as
might naturally be inferred from the confusion of her manner, and the
tremulous tones of her voice, which, indeed, were seductive and full of
natural melody. Her heart palpitated until its beatings might be
heard, and she trembled with that kind of terror which is composed of
apprehension and pleasure. That a gentleman--one of the quality--could
condescend to feel any interest in a humble girl like her, was what she
could scarcely have dreamed; but when he told her of her beauty, the
natural elegance and symmetry of her figure, and added that he loved her
better than any girl, either high or low, he had ever seen, she believed
that his words were true, and her brain became almost giddy with wonder
and delight.
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