to do, her honest, open acknowledgment of wrong, following so quickly
upon the heels of her fault, accomplished easily. It drew him within
the circle of her fatal attractions, and when Jane told me of it, I
knew his fate was sealed, and that, sooner or later, his untouched
heart and cool head would fall victim to the shafts that so surely
winged all others.

It might, and probably would, be "later," since, as Brandon had said,
he was not one of those who wear the heart upon the sleeve. Then he
had that strong vein of prudence and caution, which, in view of Mary's
unattainableness, would probably come to his help. But never was man's
heart strong enough to resist Mary Tudor's smile for long.

There was this difference between Brandon and most others--he would be
slow to love, but when love should once fairly take root in his
intense nature, he would not do to trifle with.

The night after the meeting, Mary cuddled up to Jane, who slept with
her, and whispered, half bashfully:

"Tell me all about Brandon; I am interested in him. I believe if I
knew more persons like him I should be a better girl, notwithstanding
he is one of the boldest men I ever knew. He says anything he wishes,
and, with all his modest manner, is as cool with me as if I were a
burgher's daughter. His modesty is all on the outside, but it is
pretty, and pretty things must be on the outside to be useful. I
wonder if Judson thought him modest?"

Jane talked of Brandon to Mary, who was in an excellent humor, until
the girls fell asleep.