All
about him seemed to say it should not be his fault if the follies of
his youth remained unforgotten; and his airy carriage sat well upon
him. None the less Donal felt there was no restoration of the charm
which had at first attracted him; that was utterly vanished. He felt
certain he had been going down hill, and was now, instead of
negatively, consciously and positively untrue.
With gradations undefined, but not unmarked of Donal, as if the man
found himself under influences of which the youth had been unaware,
he began to show himself not indifferent to the attractions of his
cousin. He expressed concern that her health was not what it had
been; sought her in her room when she did not appear; professed an
interest in knowing what books she was reading, and what were her
studies with Donal; behaved like a good brother-cousin, who would
not be sorry to be something more.
And now the earl, to the astonishment of the household, began to
appear at table; and, apparently as a consequence of this, Donal was
requested rather than invited to take his meals with the family--not
altogether to his satisfaction, seeing he could not only read while
he ate alone, but could get through more quickly, and have the time
thus saved, for things of greater consequence. His presence made it
easier for lord Forgue to act his part, and the manners he brought
to the front left little to be desired.
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