Page:Saxe Holm's Stories, Series Two.djvu/354

344 whom he desired to please; and he had a large, clear, light-blue eye, which looked full in everybody's face, and never wavered. It is only after a long and more or less sad experience of the world, that we learn to recognize such eyes as the eyes of traitors. I know to-day two women who are base and treacherous as if the very blood of Judas Iscariot filled their veins, and they both have sunny, clear, unflinching, light-blue eyes; and I have known a man who could, on occasion, tell cowardly lies with as steady a gaze into your face as an honest man could give,—and he too had light-blue eyes,—sunny, clear, unflinching.

If anybody had said to Susan Sweetser, that Professor Balloure was not an upright, sincere man, she would have blazed with indignation. His beauty, his brilliancy, his seeming kindliness, impressed her in the outset; and when by degrees he singled her out from all her class, and made evident and especial efforts to interest and instruct her, her admiration took on an affectionate and grateful quality which made her very attractive, and gave Edward Balloure great pleasure. Nothing was further from his intention than to have any flirtation with Susan. He was too cold-blooded and conscious ever to compromise himself for any woman; and he really did care for Susan herself too truly and warmly to be willing to compromise her. But he did intend to enjoy himself; and he did find a greater pleasure in teaching Susan Sweetser, in