Hitherto, her suitors had awakened no other feeling in her heart
but vanity. Now, she felt no longer able to sail on, "imperial
arbitress," smiling at woes which she could inflict, but never share.
That instinct, which, in the heart of young Hinkley had produced
fear, if not antipathy, had been as active in her case, though with
a very different result. The first glimpse which she had of the
handsome stranger, months before, had impressed her with a singular
emotion; and now that he was returned, she could not divest herself
of the thought that his return was a consequence of that one glimpse.
With a keener judgment than belonged to her neighbors, she too had
some suspicions that religion was scarcely the prevailing motive
which had brought the youth back to their little village; for how
could she reconcile with his present demure gravity and devout
profession, the daring which he had shown in riding back to behold
her a second time? That such had been his motive she divined by her
own feeling of curiosity, and the instincts of vanity were prompt
enough to believe that this was motive sufficient to bring him
back once more, and under the guise of a character, which would
the readiest secure an easy entrance to society.
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