The result, certainly, had not been
brought about as he expected, nor in a way tending to increase his
self-complacency, but he felt that he would be a broader and better
man for the ordeal through which he had passed. He also realized
that the changes in Ida were not the superficial ones he had
contemplated. he had regarded her face and character as little
better than a piece of canvas on which there was already a drawing
of great promise, but very defective. By erasures here and skillful
touches there he had hoped to assist nature in carrying out her
evident intentions. The tragedy that well-nigh resulted taught
him that human lives are dangerous playthings, and that quackery
in attempting spiritual reform involved more peril than ignorant
interference with physical laws.
And yet that morning had proved that the desired change had been
accomplished, even more thoroughly than he had hoped. The dangerous
period of transition had been safely passed, and the beautiful
face expressed that which was more than womanly refinement, thought
and culture. These elements would develop with time. But the
countenance on which he had seen the impress of vanity, pride,
and insincerity, and later the despair of a wronged and desperate
woman, had grown open and childlike again as she told him her story
and read to Mr.
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