The piazza was nearly empty, but before she stepped out upon it
she saw not far away a gentleman reading, who at last did cause
the blood to rush tumultuously into her face.
At another time she would have turned hastily from him; but in her
present morbid mood she acted from a different impulse. The artist
had not observed her approach, and standing a little back in the
shadow of the hall-way she found a cruel fascination in comparing
the man she loved with the low fellow whose shadow now fell so darkly
across her own character. She looked steadily at his downcast face
until every line and curve in his strong profile was impressed on
her memory. In the healthful color of his finely-chiseled features
there were no indications of that excess which already marred Sibley's
countenance. The decided contour corresponded with the positive
nature. The unhappy girl felt instinctively that if he were on her
side, he would be a faithful ally; but if against her, she would
find his inflexible will a granite wall against all the allurements
of her beauty. The face before her indicated a man controlled by
his higher, not lower nature; and in her deep humiliation she now
felt that even if he knew all that was passing in her heart, he
would bestow only transient pity, mingled with contempt.
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