To have repented and become as noble a creature as Lenorme was
capable of imagining her--not to say as God had designed her, would
indeed have been to make up for all he had suffered. But the poor
blandishment she contemplated as amends, could render him blessed
only while its intoxication blinded him to the fact that it meant
nothing of what it ought to mean, that behind it was no entire,
heart filled woman. Meantime, as the past, with its delightful
imprudences, its trembling joys, glided away, swiftly widening the
space between her and her false fears and shames, and seeming to
draw with it the very facts themselves, promising to obliterate at
length all traces of them, she gathered courage; and as the feeling
of exposure that had made the covert of Liftore's attentions
acceptable, began to yield, her variableness began to re-appear,
and his lordship to find her uncertain as ever. Assuredly, as his
aunt said, she was yet but a girl incapable of knowing her own mind,
and he must not press his suit. Nor had he the spur of jealousy
or fear to urge him: society regarded her as his; and the shadowy
repute of the bold faced countess intercepted some favourable rays
which would otherwise have fallen upon the young, and beautiful
marchioness from fairer luminaries even than Liftore.
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