The things we do!

I need not tell you that was Mary's only object in going, nor that her
heart was as pure as a babe's--quite as chaste and almost as innocent.
It is equally true that the large proportion of persons who visited
Grouche made his soothsaying an excuse. The thought of how wretched
life would be with Louis had put into Mary's mind the thought of how
sweet it would be with Brandon. Then came the wish that Brandon had
been a prince, or even a great English nobleman; and then leaped up,
all rainbow-hued, the hope that he might yet, by reason of his own
great virtues, rise to all of these, and she become his wife. But at
the threshold of this fair castle came knocking the thought that
perhaps he did not care for her, and had deceived her to gain her
favors. Then she flushed with anger and swore to herself she hated
him, and hoped never to see his face again. And the castle faded and
was wafted away to the realms of airy nothingness.
Ah! how people will sometimes lie to themselves; and sensible people
at that.


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