And though
Paolina was such as she has been described, it was impossible but
that such notions, not specially set forth or taught, but pervading
all the unconscious teaching of the world around her, should have
rendered her less sensitively anxious as to the possibility of
misconception lighting on her, than an equally good English girl
would have been. Could she have been indifferent to the danger that
slander should tarnish her good name? asks an Englishwoman. But the
whole world in which she lived would not have felt it to be slander.
It would have been too much in the ordinary course of things.
How Paolina felt in the matter, Ludovico was made to understand on
that evening which has been so often referred to; and the reader may
gather from the conversation that passed between them.
Paolina had worked hard all day. The mosaics in San Vitale were
nearly finished. Ludovico had been with her on her scaffolding
during the few hours of light of the short afternoon. He had become
sensible that the intercourse between him and Paolina had latterly
been growing to be less frank, unreserved, and easy than it had
been. He had once been quite sure that Paolina loved him with the
whole force of a thoroughly virgin heart. He had latterly begun
almost to think that he had been mistaken in her. She would turn
from him.
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