Arms may be used
against them, and a sort of battle waged, against which they can raise no
shield--from which they can retire into no fortress--in which they can
parry no blow. A man so weak and so attacked may sometimes run; but even
the poor chance of running is often cut off from him. How unlike she was
to Lucy! He believed her--in part; and yet that was the idea that occurred
to him. When Lucy was much in earnest, in her eye, too, a tear would
sparkle, the smallest drop, a bright liquid diamond that never fell; and
all her face would be bright and eloquent with feeling; but how unlike
were the two! He knew that the difference was that between truth and
falsehood; and yet he partly believed the falsehood. "If I knew how to
save you from an hour's uneasiness, I would do it," he said.
"No--no--no!" she murmured.
"Would I not? You do not know me then." He had nothing further to say, and
it suited her to remain silent for the moment, while she dried her eyes
and recovered her composure, and prepared herself to carry on the battle
with a smile. She would carry on the battle, using every wile she knew,
straining every nerve to be victorious, encountering any and all dangers,
and yet she had no definite aim before her.
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