But no sooner did Wacousta feel the soft pressure of her
hand, and meet her eyes turned on his with an expression
of interest, than the most rapid transition was effected
in his feelings. He drew the form of the weakly resisting
girl closer to his heart; again imprinted a kiss upon
her lips; and then, while every muscle in his iron frame
seemed quivering with emotion, exclaimed,--"By Heaven!
that touch, that glance, were Clara Beverley's all over!
Oh, let me linger on the recollection, even such as they
were, when her arms first opened to receive me in that
sweet oasis of the Highlands. Yes, Clara," he proceeded
more deliberately, as he scanned her form with an eye
that made her shudder, "such as your mother was, so are
you; the same delicacy of proportion; the same graceful
curvature of limb, only less rounded, less womanly. But
you must be younger by about two years than she then was.
Your age cannot exceed seventeen; and time will supply
what your mere girlhood renders you deficient in."
There was a cool licence of speech--a startling freedom
of manner--in the latter part of this address, that
disappointed not less than it pained and offended the
unhappy Clara.
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