Page:Romance & Reality 3.pdf/192

190 "You are quite mistaken; but take no notice now," was the reply. "Is it possible," thought Lady Mandeville, "that I have all along been mistaken, and that Emily is really indifferent to Lorraine? Has she hitherto been withheld from expressing her real opinion from deference to mine, and from supposing him to be my favourite?" This idea was only started to be rejected. A thousand slight but strong circumstances rose to her memory. "I do believe she had a preference for him; but, alas! amusement is wonderfully in the way of constancy. Emily is a very sweet creature, but it requires strength of mind for strength of attachment." How little do even our most intimate friends know of us! There is an excitement about intense misery which is its support: light sufferings spring to the lips in words, and to the eyes in tears; but there is a pride in deep passion which guards its feelings from even the shadow of a surmise. 'Tis strange the strength which mingles with our weakness, that even in the suffering which sends the tear to the eye—not to be shed, but there to lie in all its burning and saltness—which swells in the throat but