To the grinning Anne, who was waiting in the hall to see her to her carriage, she said: "Well, it looks serious this time--the countess is over head and ears.
But it is quite true, he is much better-looking than any of the others." "Looks are not everything," returned Anne sagely, and her contemptuous shrug conveyed plainly enough that she did not share her mistress' taste.
Upstairs Pilar had rushed over to Wilhelm as soon as the countess disappeared, and hid her face on his breast.
Wilhelm pushed her gently away, and said sadly: "I have no right to reproach you, or, if I did, it would only be for not having been open with me, although you boast of your extreme truthfulness." "Wilhelm," she entreated, clasping his hand in both of hers, "do not judge me hastily.

I might excuse myself, I might even deny it, but I am not capable of that.

When I told you the story of my life, I believed honestly that I had made you a full confession.

You shake your head?
Is it true--I swear it is! This man had entirely escaped my memory.

Why, I never loved him! It was in some part a childish folly, but principally pity and perhaps little caprice on the part of a bored and lonely woman.