"Sudden
arose Ianthe's soul; it stood All beautiful in naked purity." The name of
Ianthe suited her exactly. And the antithesis conveyed to her mind by
naked purity struck her strongly, and she determined to learn the passage
by heart. Eight or nine lines were printed separately, like a stanza, and
the labour would not be great, and the task, when done, would be complete.
"Instinct with inexpressible beauty and grace, Each stain of earthliness
Had passed away, it reassumed Its native dignity, and stood Immortal amid
ruin." Which was instinct with beauty, the stain or the soul, she did not
stop to inquire, and may be excused for not understanding. "Ah," she
exclaimed to herself, "how true it is; how one feels it; how it comes home
to one!--Sudden arose Ianthe's soul.'" And then she walked about the
garden, repeating the words to herself, and almost forgetting the heat.
"'Each stain of earthliness had passed away.' Ha; yes. They will pass away
and become instinct with beauty and grace." A dim idea came upon her that
when this happy time should arrive, no one would claim her necklace from
her, and that the man at the stables would not be so disagreeably punctual
in sending in his bill.
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