Last words of Thomas Carlyle - Warburg Institute

':;'130 WOTTON EEINFREDand next moment, neither knew how it was, lint hisarms were round her, and her bosom was on his, andin the first pure heavenly kiss of love two souls weremelted into one.It was but for a moment. She sharply, almostangrily withdrew herself and cried, hiding her face'Forbear, sir ! If you hope to see me another minute,no more of this ! ' Wotton stood confounded at hisrashness, yet glorying in its celestial fruit : heattempted in broken words to apologise.It was not to hear'Beware, sir ! said she.*love declarations, which I must not hsten to, that Isent for you hither. My life is made of sterner stuffthey are far other tasks that await me. Alas ! ' continuedshe, *I have no friend in this world, if yoube my lover. I am an unhappy girl, an orphanwanderer ! ' She burst into weeping.*Jane Montagu ! ' said "Wotton, in a voice strivingto be calm, * I have hoped, I have wished for no otherhappiness, but to be your friend and brother throughall time. If there was ever any vestige of goodnessin me, believe that I am yours, to live and die for youas you shall desh'e. Weak, unworthy I am, but notwicked ; trust in me, trust in me ! Can I betrayyour trust ? Can I give it in exchange as a thingless precious ? what else could my life have in itworth keeping !'My wish and purpose is to trust you,' said she,giving him her hand, which he modestly pressed to