CHAPTER XXIX. LOUIS MOORE.

enoticed(againitistothispageonlyIwouldmaketheremark)thatshewillneverpermitanymanbutmyselftorenderherthatassistance.IhaveseenherpolitelydeclineSirPhilipNunnely'said.Sheisalwaysmightygentlewithheryoungbaronet,mightytenderforhisfeelings,forsooth,andofhisverythin-skinnedamourpropre.IhavemarkedherhaughtilyrejectSamWynne's.NowIknow—myheartknowsit,forithasfeltit—thatsheresignsherselftomeunreluctantly.Issheconscioushowmystrengthrejoicestoserveher?Imyselfamnotherslave—Ideclareit—butmyfacultiesgathertoherbeauty,likethegeniitotheglistenofthelamp.Allmyknowledge,allmyprudence,allmycalm,andallmypowerstandinherpresencehumblywaitingatask.Howgladtheyarewhenamandatecomes!Whatjoytheytakeinthetoilssheassigns!Doessheknowit? "Ihavecalledhercareless.Itisremarkablethathercarelessnessnevercompromisesherrefinement.Indeed,throughthisveryloopholeofcharacter,thereality,depth,genuinenessofthatrefinementmaybeascertained.Awholegarmentsometimescoversmeagrenessandmalformationthrougharentsleeveafairroundarmmayberevealed.Ihaveseenandhandledmanyofherpossessions,becausetheyarefrequentlyastray.Ineversawanythingthatdidnotproclaimthelady—nothingsordid,nothingsoiled.Inonesensesheisasscrupulousas,inanother,sheisunthinking.Asapeasantgirl,shewouldgoevertrimandcleanly.Lookatthepurekidofthislittleglove,atthefresh,unsulliedsatinofthebag. "WhatadifferencethereisbetweenS.andthatpearlC.H.!Caroline,Ifancy,isthesoulofconscientiouspunctualityandniceexactitude.Shewouldpreciselysuitthedomestichabitsofacertainfastidiouskinsmanofmine—sodelicate,dexterous,quaint,quick,quiet—alldonetoaminute,allarrangedtoastrawbreadth.ShewouldsuitRobert.ButwhatcouldIdowithanythingsonearlyfaultless?Sheismyequal,poorasmyself.Sheiscertainlypretty:alittleRaffaelleheadhers—Raffaelleinfeature,quiteEnglishinexpression,allinsulargraceandpuritybutwhereisthereanythingtoalter,anythingtoendure,anythingtoreprimand,tobeanxiousabout?Theresheis,alilyofthevalley,untinted,needingnotint.Whatchangecouldimproveher?Whatpencildaretopaint?Mysweetheart,ifIeverhaveone,mustbearneareraffinitytotherose—asweet,livelydelightguardedwithpricklyperil.Mywife,ifIevermarry,muststirmygreatframewithastingnowandthenshemustfurnishusetoherhusband'svastmassofpatience.IwasnotmadesoenduringtobematedwithalambIshouldfindmorecongenialresponsibilityinthechargeofayounglionessorleopardess.Ilikefewthingssweetbutwhatarelikewisepungent—fewthingsbrightbutwhatarelikewisehot.Ilikethesummerday,whosesunmakesfruitblushandcornblanch.Beautyisneversobeautifulaswhen,ifIteaseit,itwreathesbackonmewithspirit.Fascinationisneversoimperialaswhen,rousedandhalfireful,shethreatenstransformationtofierceness.IfearIshouldtireofthemute,monotonousinnocenceofthelambIshoulderelongfeelasburdensomethenestlingdovewhichneverstirredinmybosombutmypatiencewouldexultinstillingtheflutteringsandtrainingtheenergiesoftherestlessmerlin.Inmanagingthewildinstinctsofthescarcemanageablebêtefauvemypowerswouldrevel. "Omypupil!OPeri!toom