"
Lydia hardly knew how to take this observation. In one sense it was
flattering, in another discouraging. If the belief brought Douglas Dale
into easier relations with her, if it induced him to feel that a bond
of friendship, cemented by the memory of the past, subsisted between
them, so much the better for her purpose; but if he believed that this
supposed love of Lionel's had been returned, and proposed to cultivate
her on the mutual sympathy, or "weep with thee, tear for tear,"
principle, so much the worse. The position was undeniably embarrassing
even to a young lady of Miss Lydia Graham's remarkable strength of
mind, and _savoir faire_. But she extricated herself from it, without
speaking, by some wonderful management of her eyes, and a slight
deprecatory movement of her shoulders, which made even Douglas Dale, a
by no means ready man, though endowed with deep feelings and strong
common sense, understand, as well as if she had spoken, that Lionel had
indeed entertained feelings of a tender nature towards her, but that
she had not returned them by any warmer sentiment than friendship. It
was admirably well done; and the next sentence which Douglas Dale spoke
was certainly calculated to nourish Lydia's hopes.
"He might have sustained a terrible grief, then, had he lived longer,"
said Douglas; "but I see this subject pains you, Miss Graham; I will
touch upon it no more.
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