"
"A noble, generous nature prompted those words," she now often
mused. "How can I obey their spirit better than in rewarding the
man who not only has done so much for me, but also at every cost
sought to rescue him?"
In this growing disposition she had no innate repugnance to
overcome, nor the shrinking which can neither be defined nor
reasoned against. Accustomed to see him almost daily from
childhood, conscious for years that he was giving her a love that
was virtually homage, she found her heart growing very
compassionate and ready to yield the strong, quiet affection which
she believed might satisfy him. This had come about through no
effort on her part, from no seeking on his, but was the result of
circumstances, the outgrowth of her best and most unselfish
feelings.
But the effect began to separate itself in character from its
causes. All that had gone before might explain why she was
learning to love him, and be sufficient reason for this affection,
but a woman's love, even that quiet phase developing in Helen's
heart, is not like a man's conviction, for which he can give his
clear-cut reasons.
Pages:
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154