Was this so?
Was the promise of the future shining with prophetic light through the surface-shadow of Norah's reserve, and darkening with prophetic gloom, under the surface-glitter of Magdalen's bright spirits?
If the life of the elder sister was destined henceforth to be the ripening ground of the undeveloped Good that was in her-was the life of the younger doomed to be the battle-field of mortal conflict with the roused forces of Evil in herself?
On the brink of that terrible conclusion, Miss Garth shrank back in dismay.

Her heart was the heart of a true woman.

It accepted the conviction which raised Norah higher in her love: it rejected the doubt which threatened to place Magdalen lower.

She rose and paced the room impatiently; she recoiled with an angry suddenness from the whole train of thought in which her mind had been engaged but the moment before.
What if there were dangerous elements in the strength of Magdalen's character--was it not her duty to help the girl against herself?
How had she performed that duty?
She had let herself be governed by first fears and first impressions; she had never waited to consider whether Magdalen's openly acknowledged action of that morning might not imply a self-sacrificing fortitude, which promised, in after-life, the noblest and the most enduring results.

She had let Norah go and speak those words of tender remonstrance, which she should first have spoken herself.