The deep and exaggerated consciousness of her personal defects--the constitutional absence of hope, which made her slow to trust in human affection, and, consequently, slow to respond to any manifestation of it--made her manner shy and constrained to men and women, and even to children.

We have seen something of this trembling distrust of her own capability of inspiring affection, in the grateful surprise she expresses at the regret felt by her Belgian pupils at her departure.

But not merely were her actions kind, her words and tones were ever gentle and caressing, towards animals: and she quickly noticed the least want of care or tenderness on the part of others towards any poor brute creature.

The readers of "Shirley" may remember that it is one of the tests which the heroine applies to her lover.
"Do you know what soothsayers I would consult ?".

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