"
"How true the old adage, that evil communications corrupt good
manners!" said I.
"There must be some radical weakness in a case of such sudden
deterioration as this," replied my wife. "Some latent vanity and
love of the world. I cannot believe that one sensible young woman in
ten would be spoiled to the degree that Delia is spoiled, if you
passed her through like temptations."
I saw Delia myself, on the next day. She was dressed in New York,
not in S----, style; and so, naturally, appeared to disadvantage in
my eyes. I found her very bright and animated; and to my questions
as to her new city life, she spoke warmly of its attractions. At
times, in the intervals of exciting talk, her countenance would fall
into its true expression, as nearly all countenances will when
thought ceases to be active--that expression, in which you see, as
in a mirror, the actual state of mind. It revealed far more than
came into her consciousness at the time, else would she have covered
it with one of the rippling smiles she had already learned to throw,
like a spangled veil, over her face.
Pages:
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177