, and to adore, before the
timid, yet playful little girl, who now asked Edward to mend her pen, now to
construe a stanza in Tasso, and now how to spell a very - very long word in her
version of it? All these incidents have their fascination on the mind at a
certain period of life, but not when a youth is entering it, and rather looking
out for some object whose affection may dignify him in his own eyes, than
stooping to one who looks up to him for such distinction. Hence, though there
can be no rule in so capricious a passion, early love is frequently ambitious in
choosing its object; or, which comes to the same, selects her (as in the case of
Saint Cecilia aforesaid) from a situation that gives fair scope for le beau
idéal, which the reality of intimate and familiar life rather tends to limit and
impair. I knew a very accomplished and sensible young man cured of a violent
passion for a pretty woman, whose talents were not equal to her face and figure,
by being permitted to bear her company for a whole afternoon. Thus it is
certain, that had Edward enjoyed such an opportunity of conversing with Miss
Stubbs, Aunt Rachel's precaution would have been unnecessary, for he would as
soon have fallen in love with the dairy-maid. And although Miss Bradwardine was
a very different character, it seems probable that the very intimacy of their
intercourse prevented his feeling for her other sentiments than those of a
brother for an amiable and accomplished sister; while the sentiments of poor
Rose were gradually, and without her being conscious, assuming a shade of warmer
affection.
    I ought to have said that Edward, when he sent to Dundee for the books
before mentioned, had applied for, and received permission, extending his leave
of absence. But the letter of his commanding-officer contained a friendly
recommendation to him, not to spend his time exclusively with persons, who,
estimable as they might be in a general sense, could not be supposed well
affected to a government which they declined to acknowledge by taking the oath
of allegiance. The letter further insinuated, though with great delicacy, that
although some family connections might be supposed to render it necessary for
Captain Waverley to communicate with gentlemen who were in this unpleasant state
of suspicion, yet his father's situation and wishes ought to prevent his
prolonging those attentions into exclusive intimacy. And it was intimated, that
while his political principles were endangered by communicating with laymen of
this description, he might also receive erroneous impressions in religion from
the prelatic clergy,
