CHAPTER XIII.

rtreacherousimport. ButZoraideReuter?Ofcourseherdefectionhadcutmetothequick?Thatstintmusthavegonetoodeepforanyconsolationsofphilosophytobeavailableincuringitssmart?Notatall.Thenightfeverover,Ilookedaboutforbalmtothatwoundalso,andfoundsomenearerhomethanatGilead.ReasonwasmyphysicianshebeganbyprovingthattheprizeIhadmissedwasoflittlevalue:sheadmittedthat,physically,Zoraidemighthavesuitedme,butaffirmedthatoursoulswerenotinharmony,andthatdiscordmusthaveresultedfromtheunionofhermindwithmine.Shetheninsistedonthesuppressionofallrepining,andcommandedmerathertorejoicethatIhadescapedasnare.Hermedicamentdidmegood.IfeltitsstrengtheningeffectwhenImetthedirectressthenextdayitsstringentoperationonthenervessufferednotrembling,nofalteringitenabledmetofaceherwithfirmness,topassherwithease.Shehadheldoutherhandtome—thatIdidnotchoosetosee.Shehadgreetedmewithacharmingsmile—itfellonmyheartlikelightonstone.Ipassedontotheestrade,shefollowedmehereye,fastenedonmyface,demandedofeveryfeaturethemeaningofmychangedandcarelessmanner.“Iwillgiveherananswer,”thoughtIand,meetinghergazefull,arresting,fixingherglance,Ishotintohereyes,frommyown,alook,wheretherewasnorespect,nolove,notenderness,nogallantrywherethestrictestanalysiscoulddetectnothingbutscorn,hardihood,irony.Imadeherbearit,andfeelithersteadycountenancedidnotchange,buthercolourrose,andsheapproachedmeasiffascinated.Shesteppedontotheestrade,andstoodclosebymysideshehadnothingtosay.Iwouldnotrelieveherembarrassment,andnegligentlyturnedovertheleavesofabook. “Ihopeyoufeelquiterecoveredto-day,”atlastshesaid,inalowtone. “AndI,mademoiselle,hopethatyoutooknocoldlastnightinconsequenceofyourlatewalkinthegarden.” Quickenoughofcomprehension,sheunderstoodmedirectlyherfacebecamealittleblanched—averylittle—butnomuscleinherrathermarkedfeaturesmovedand,calmandself-possessed,sheretiredfromtheestrade,takingherseatquietlyatalittledistance,andoccupyingherselfwithnettingapurse.Iproceededtogivemylessonitwasa“Composition,”i.e.,Idictatedcertaingeneralquestions,ofwhichthepupilsweretocomposetheanswersf