 moment
for affectation, deception, or a want of frankness of any sort. Here, over my
mother's grave, and over the grave of truth-loving, truth-telling Hetty, every
thing like unfair dealing seems to be out of place. I will, therefore, speak to
you without any reserve, and without any dread of being misunderstood. You are
not an acquaintance of a week, but it appears to me as if I had known you for
years. So much, and so much that is important has taken place, within that short
time, that the sorrows, and dangers, and escapes of a whole life have been
crowded into a few days, and they who have suffered and acted together in such
scenes, ought not to feel like strangers. I know that what I am about to say
might be misunderstood by most men, but I hope for a generous construction of my
course from you. We are not here, dwelling among the arts and deceptions of the
settlements, but young people who have no occasion to deceive each other, in any
manner or form. - I hope I make myself understood?«
    »Sartain, Judith; few convarse better than yourself, and none more
agreeable, like. Your words are as pleasant as your looks.«
    »It is the manner in which you have so often praised those looks, that gives
me courage to proceed - Still, Deerslayer, it is not easy, for one of my sex and
years to forget all her lessons of infancy, all her habits, and her natural
diffidence, and say openly what her heart feels!«
    »Why not, Judith? Why should n't women as well as men deal fairly and
honestly by their fellow creatur's? I see no reason why you should not speak as
plainly as myself, when there is any thing ra'ally important to be said.«
    This indomitable diffidence, which still prevented the young man from
suspecting the truth, would have completely discouraged the girl, had not her
whole soul, as well as her whole heart, been set upon making a desperate effort
to rescue herself from a future that she dreaded with a horror as vivid, as the
distinctness with which she fancied she foresaw it. This motive, however, raised
her above all common considerations, and she persevered even to her own
surprise, if not to her great confusion.
    »I will - I must deal as plainly with you, as I would with poor, dear Hetty,
were that sweet child living!« she continued, turning pale, instead
