Our high-minded heroine, however, had no other theory upon the subject
of her own feelings, than that she loved her religion and its precepts,
and detested every word that was at variance with truth, and every act
inconsistent with honesty and that faithful integrity which resists
temptation and corruption in whatever plausible shapes they may approach
it.
Be this, however, as it may, she now found that, as time advanced, her
heart began to fall into its original habits. The tumult occasioned by
the shock resulting from her lover's want of integrity, had now nearly
passed away, and the affection of the woman began to supersede the
severity of the judge. By degrees she was enabled, as we have said, to
look back upon her conduct, and to judge, of her lover through the more
softened medium of her reviving affection. This feeling gained upon her
slowly but surely, until her conscience became, alarmed at the excess
of her own severity towards him. Still, however, she would occasionally
return, as it were, to a contemplation of his delinquency, and endeavor,
from an unconscious principle of self-love, to work herself up into that
lofty hatred of dishonor which had prompted his condemnation; but the
effort was in vain. Every successive review of his guilt was attended
by a consciousness that she had been righteous overmuch, and that the
consequences of his treason, even against their common religion, were
not only rapidly diminishing in her heart, but yielding to something
that very nearly resembled remorse.
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