But such is not practically the feeling in those social latitudes where Paolina was born and bred.
The breath that tarnishes the clear mirror of a noble damsel's name, says and teaches that social feeling, brings dishonour to a noble race; and she has failed in her duty to her race.

But who could be injured by any light word spoken or light thought of such an one as poor Paolina?
She was an "artist." What treason to art, what lese-majeste against the beautiful in every one of its manifestations, to conceive that in that fact any reason was to be found why a less nice conduct in such matters should be expected of her! And yet, for reasons which it would take a volume to elucidate, so it is, that in the countries where art is deemed to be most at home, and where it is in the largest degree the occupation of large sections of the people, it is deemed that a less strict rule with reference to the matters under consideration is laid on them than on others.

What if a young female artist "perfectly free from ties," as would be urged, and whose conduct in such a matter could hurt nobody,--what if such an one chose to form a tie not recognized by the Church?
The Church herself would look very leniently on the venial fault.

And though Paolina was such as she has been described, it was impossible but that such notions, not specially set forth or taught, but pervading all the unconscious teaching of the world around her, should have rendered her less sensitively anxious as to the possibility of misconception lighting on her, than an equally good English girl would have been.

Could she have been indifferent to the danger that slander should tarnish her good name?
asks an Englishwoman.