But it is inexcuseable to let the mind be occupied recurrently by a man who has not moved the feelings, wicked though it be to have the feelings moved by him. Aminta rebuked her silly wits, and proceeded to speculate from an altitude, seeing the man's projects in a singularly definite minuteness, as if the crisis he invoked, the perils he braved, the mute participation he implored of her for the short space until their fate should be decided, were a story sharply cut on metal. Several times she surprised herself in an interesting pursuit of the story; abominably cold, abominably interested. She fell upon a review of small duties of the day, to get relief; and among them a device for spiriting away her aunt from the table where Mrs. Lawrence wished to meet Lord Ormont. It sprang up to her call like an imp of the burning pit. She saw it ingenious and of natural aspect. I must be a born intriguer! she said in her breast. That was hateful; but it seemed worse when she thought of a woman commanding the faculty and consenting to be duped and foiled. That might be termed despicable; but what if she had not any longer the wish to gain her way with her lord? Those letters are acting like a kind of poison in me! her heart cried: and it was only her head that dwelt on the antidote. ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS: A woman, and would therefore listen to nonsense And not be beaten by an acknowledged defeat Botched mendings will only make them worse Convincing themselves that they impersonate sagacity I have all the luxuries--enough to loathe them Lawyers hold the keys of the great world Naked original ideas, are acceptable at no time Not daring risk of office by offending the taxpayer This female talk of the eternities To know how to take a licking, that wins in the end To males, all ideas are female until they are made facts We cannot, men or woman, control the heart in sleep at night Who cries, Come on, and prays his gods you won't [The End]