The more decidedly you repulsed me, the more I felt that you
were worthy of my adoration. Anger and admiration succeeded each other
in my heart, and even in my most violent paroxysms of rage I always
respected you. I descried the angel in the woman, and bowed to the
ascendency of a celestial purity. Now I am happy and blessed indeed;
for I have in you precisely what I needed, without knowing it--this pure
affection, free from all earthly taint--unalterable--eternal. I possess
at last the love of a soul."
"Yes, my dear brother, it is yours," Isabelle replied; "and it is a
great source of happiness to me that I am able to assure you of it. You
have in me a devoted sister and friend, who will love you doubly to make
up for the years we have lost--above all, now that you have promised me
to correct the faults that have so grieved and alarmed our dear father,
and to exhibit only the good qualities of which YOU have plenty."
"Oh! you little preacher," cried Vallombreuse, with a bright, admiring
smile; "how you take advantage of my weakness. However, it is perfectly
true that I have been a dreadful monster, but I really do mean to do
better in future--if not for love of virtue itself, at least to avoid
seeing my charming sister put on a severe, disapproving air, at some
atrocious escapade of mine.
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