the subject I wordnetdesire now to say a few  
but a yery few words, before you take my girl from me. My boy," 
he continued, with great intensity of feeling  '^ All the  that 
man can have in man I have in you. I know you to be affectionate, I 
know you to be firm : I know that you possess too the  of a man, 
to bear up boldly against difficulties whatever shape they may assume ; 
but I am getting old, and weak, and apprehensive, my boy, and that 
weakhess  in  of my conviction of its being unnecessary  
prompts me to claim of you now a solemn promise, that whatever may 
occur to me  God knows what may !  ^but whatever may occur, you 
will be firm, still firm, to Louise !*' 

** Most solemnly," said Valentine, " I do promise this ; and every 
feeling of , as well as every principle of honour, binds me to the 
faithful performance of that promise. ' 

" You will never desert her, let what may happen to me f ' 

* Never !" 

'' I am content. I never doubted your firmness, I never doubted 
your  : believe me, my boy, I never did ; but I felt it my duty 
to obtain this promise from you  although