So free was Marian's pure heart from jealousy or suspicion that these
attentions bestowed by Thurston, and these rumors circulated in the
neighborhood, gave her no uneasiness. For though she had, for herself,
discovered him to be passionate and impetuous, she believed him to be
sound in principle. But when again and again she saw them together, at
church, at lecture, at dinner parties, at evening dances; when at all
the Christmas and New Year festivities she saw her escorted by him; when
she saw him ever at her side with a devotion as earnest and ardent as it
was perfectly respectful; when she saw him bend and whisper to the
witching girl and hang delighted on her "low replies," her own
confidence was shaken. What could he mean? Was it possible that instead
of being merely impulsive and erring, he was deliberately wicked? No,
no, never! Yet, what could be his intentions? Did he really wish to win
Angelica's heart? Alas! whether he wished so or not, it was but too
evident to all that he had gained her preference. In her blushing cheek
and downcast eyes, and tremulous voice and embarrassed manner, when he
was present, in her abstracted mind, and restless air of wandering
glances when he was absent, the truth was but too clear.
Pages:
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202