There was nothing of love in all this. Hetta, however, did not wish him to talk of love. He was certainly now treating her as a friend,--as a most intimate friend. If he would only do that without making love to her, how happy could she be! But his determination still held good. "And now," said he, altering his tone altogether, "I must speak about myself." Immediately the weight of her hand upon his arm was lessened. Thereupon he put his left hand round and pressed her arm to his. "No," he said; "do not make any change towards me while I speak to you. Whatever comes of it we shall at any rate be cousins and friends."

There was nothing of love in all this. Hetta thought that if he would only continue treating her as a friend, how happy could she be!
But his tone altered. "And now," said he, "I must speak about myself." Immediately the weight of her hand upon his arm was lessened. He pressed her arm to his. "No," he said; "do not make any change while I speak to you. Whatever comes of it we shall at any rate be cousins and friends."
