She sprang at her precious epistles, but I held them above my head; and then she poured out further frantic entreaties that I would burn them-do anything rather than show them. And being really fully as much inclined to laugh as scold-for I esteemed it all girlish vanity-I at length relented in a measure, and asked,-"If I consent to burn them, will you promise faithfully neither to send nor receive a letter again, nor a book (for I perceive you have sent him books), nor locks of hair, nor rings, nor playthings?"
"We don't send playthings," cried Catherine, her pride overcoming her shame.
"Nor anything at all, then, my lady?" I said. "Unless you will, here I go."
"I promise, Ellen!" she cried, catching my dress. "Oh, put them in the fire, do, do!"

She sprang at her precious letters, but I held them above my head. She entreated me to burn them - anything rather than show them. At length I relented a little.
'If I burn them,' I said, 'will you promise faithfully neither to send nor receive a letter again, nor a book, nor locks of hair, nor playthings?'
'We don't send playthings,' cried Catherine, her pride overcoming her shame.
'Nor anything at all, then, my lady?' I said. 'Unless you promise, here I go.'
'I promise, Ellen!' she cried, catching my dress. 'Oh, put them in the fire, do, do!'
