And I think I answered quite coherently: though two sets of words were going through my brain, the answer to his commonplace question, and the words that Mr.Langenau had said that night, "Pauline, I shall never look into your eyes again, I shall never touch your hand." It seemed to me an even chance which sentence saw the day; but as the walls did not fall down about me and no face looked amazement, I found I must have answered Kilian's question with propriety.
There were many voices speaking at once; but there was such a ringing in my ears, I could not distinguish who spoke, or what was said: for a moment I was lost, if any one had taken advantage of it.

But gradually I regained my senses: one after another they each took up their guard again: and I looked up.

And met his eyes?
No; but let mine rest upon his face.

And then I found I had not measured my temptation, and that there was something to do besides defending myself from others' eyes.

For there was to defend myself from my own heart.