of the soul which recoils upon itself, and the magnetic propulsions which give to the eyes an infinitude of shades; the promptings to suicide caused by a word, dispelled by an intonation; trembling glances which veil an inward daring; sudden desires to speak and act that are paralyzed by their own violence; the secret eloquence of common phrases spoken in a quivering voice; the mysterious workings of that pristine modesty of soul and that divine discernment which lead to hidden generosities, and give so exquisite a flavor to silent devotion; in short, all the loveliness of young love, and the weaknesses of its power.

Mademoiselle Josephine de Temninck was coquettish from nobility of soul.  The sense of her obvious imperfections made her as difficult to win as the handsomest of women.  The fear of some day displeasing the eye roused her pride, destroyed her trustfulness, and gave her the courage to hide in the depths of her heart that dawning happiness which other women delight in making known by their manners,—­wearing it proudly, like a coronet.  The more love urged her towards Balthazar, the less she dared to express her feelings.  The glance, the gesture, the question and answer as it were of a pretty woman, so flattering to the man she loves, would they not be in her case mere humiliating speculation?  A beautiful woman can be her natural self,—­the world overlooks her little follies or her clumsiness; whereas a single criticising glance checks the noblest expression on the lips of an ugly woman, adds to the ill-grace of her gesture, gives timidity to her eyes and awkwardness to her whole bearing.  She knows too well that to her alone the world condones no faults; she is denied the right to repair them; indeed, the chance to do so is never given.  This necessity of being perfect and on her guard at every moment, must surely chill her faculties and numb their exercise?  Such a woman can exist only in an atmosphere of angelic forbearance.  Where are the hearts from which forbearance comes with no alloy of bitter and stinging pity.

These thoughts, to which the codes of social life had accustomed her, and the sort of consideration more wounding than insult shown to her by the world,—­a consideration which increases a misfortune by making it apparent,—­oppressed Mademoiselle de Temninck with a constant sense of embarrassment, which drove back into her soul its happiest expression, and chilled and stiffened her attitudes, her speech, her looks.  Loving and beloved, she dared to be eloquent or beautiful only when alone.  Unhappy and oppressed in the broad daylight of life, she might have been enchanting could she have expanded in the shadow.  Often, to test the love thus offered to her, and at the risk of losing it, she refused to wear the draperies that concealed some portion of her defects, and her Spanish eyes grew entrancing when they saw that Balthazar thought her beautiful as before.