Now the evidence on that matter which had seemed to
her to be so sufficient was all blown to the winds.
It is true that had all her feelings been guided by reason only, she
might have been as strong as ever. In truth she had not sinned
against him. In truth she had not sinned at all. She had not done
that which she herself had desired. She had not been anxious for
wealth, or ease, or position; but had, after painful thought,
endeavoured to shape her conduct by the wishes of others, and by her
ideas of duty, as duty had been taught to her. O, how willingly
would she have remained as servant to her uncle, and have allowed M.
Urmand to carry the rich gift of his linen-chest to the feet of some
other damsel, had she believed herself to be free to choose! Had
there been no passion in her heart, she would now have known herself
to be strong in duty, and would have been able to have answered and
to have borne the rebuke of her old lover. But passion was there,
hot within her, aiding every word as he spoke it, giving strength to
his complaints, telling her of all that she had lost, telling her of
all she had taken from him.
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