Page:Romance & Reality 3.pdf/186

184 wrapped in that rich purple atmosphere when day has caught the first shadow of night—its softness, but not its gloom. There was a glorious sunset on the other side of the house, but the sky opposite was clear and pale, and only edged towards the west by two or three wandering clouds, whose freight of colour softened from crimson to the faintest rose. A large window opened into the room, whose painted walls looked in the dim light as if life were in their graceful forms. A small statue of Hebe was placed on the balcony, and against that Emily leant, so near that the hues of her own cheek were reflected on the marble. Lorraine had resolved, if possible, to interest Lady Mandeville in the beautiful but isolated Spanish girl. He had lived too much in society not to be solicitous about its opinion; and was somewhat over-anxious that Beatrice should at once take that place which would meet both her deserts and his wishes. The difference that there is between a woman's love and a man's! His passion may lead him, in the first instance, to act in opposition to opinion—but its influence is only suspended; and soon a sneer or a censure wounds his pride and weakens his love. A woman's heart, on the contrary, reposes more