You have been saying
to yourself, How in the world has it come about, that the arrogant,
imperious Vallombreuse has been transformed, from the unscrupulous,
cruel, blood-thirsty tiger that he was, into the peaceable, playful lamb
he seems to be now--which a 'gentle shepherdess' might lead about with a
ribbon round its neck!--I will tell you. During the six weeks that I was
confined to my bed, I made various reflections, which the thoughtless
might pronounce cowardly, but which are permitted to the bravest and
most valiant when death stares them in the face. I realized then, for
the first time, the relative value of many things, and also how wrong
and wicked my own course had been; and I promised myself to do very
differently for the future, if I recovered. As the passionate love that
Isabelle inspired in my heart had been replaced by a pure and sacred
fraternal affection--which is the greatest blessing of my life--I had
no further reason to dislike you. You were no longer my rival; a brother
cannot be jealous in that way of his own sister; and then, I was deeply
grateful to you, for the respectful tenderness and deference I knew you
had never failed to manifest towards her, when she was in a position
that authorized great license.
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