And this effect of virginity, even though a trifle _farouche_, harsh, and barren in the perfection of its purity, appealed to Damaris' present mood.

Her spirit leapt to meet it in proud fellowship.

For it routed forebodings.

Discounted introspective broodings.

Discounted even the apparently inevitable--since nobody and nothing, so the young girl told herself with a rush of gladly resolute conviction, is really inevitable unless you permit or choose to have them so .-- Gallant this, and the mother of brave doings; though--as Damaris was to discover later, to the increase both of wisdom and of sorrow--a half-truth only.