“One word more concerning unkind, unjust Perdita.  For a time, I thought that, by watching a complying moment, fostering the still warm ashes, I might relume in her the flame of love.  It is more cold within her, than a fire left by gypsies in winter-time, the spent embers crowned by a pyramid of snow.  Then, in endeavouring to do violence to my own disposition, I made all worse than before.  Still I think, that time, and even absence, may restore her to me.  Remember, that I love her still, that my dearest hope is that she will again be mine.  I know, though she does not, how false the veil is which she has spread over the reality—­do not endeavour to rend this deceptive covering, but by degrees withdraw it.  Present her with a mirror, in which she may know herself; and, when she is an adept in that necessary but difficult science, she will wonder at her present mistake, and hasten to restore to me, what is by right mine, her forgiveness, her kind thoughts, her love.”

CHAPTER X.

After these events, it was long before we were able to attain any degree of composure.  A moral tempest had wrecked our richly freighted vessel, and we, remnants of the diminished crew, were aghast at the losses and changes which we had undergone.  Idris passionately loved her brother, and could ill brook an absence whose duration was uncertain; his society was dear and necessary to me—­I had followed up my chosen literary occupations with delight under his tutorship and assistance; his mild philosophy, unerring reason, and enthusiastic friendship were the best ingredient, the exalted spirit of our circle; even the children bitterly regretted the loss of their kind playfellow.  Deeper grief oppressed Perdita.  In spite of resentment, by day and night she figured to herself the toils and dangers of the wanderers.  Raymond absent, struggling with difficulties, lost to the power and rank of the Protectorate, exposed to the perils of war, became an object of anxious interest; not that she felt any inclination to recall him, if recall must imply a return to their former union.  Such return she felt to be impossible; and while she believed it to be thus, and with anguish regretted that so it should be, she continued angry and impatient with him, who occasioned her misery.  These perplexities and regrets caused her to bathe her pillow with nightly tears, and to reduce her in person and in mind to the shadow of what she had been.  She sought solitude, and avoided us when in gaiety and unrestrained affection we met in a family circle.  Lonely musings, interminable wanderings, and solemn music were her only pastimes.  She neglected even her child; shutting her heart against all tenderness, she grew reserved towards me, her first and fast friend.