asked, moving a little away.

Yes, she recognized them. They were both portraits of herself, but
subtly distinguished from each other. The one represented a face fixed
in excessive austerity, with a touch of pride that was by no means
amiable, with resentful eyes, and lips on the point of becoming cruel.
In the other, though undeniably the features were the same, all these
harsh characteristics had yielded to a change of spirit; austerity had
given place to grave thoughtfulness, the eyes had a noble light, on the
lips was sweet womanly strength.

Miriam bent her head, and was silent.

"Now, both these faces are interesting," said Mallard. "Both are
uncommon, and full of force. But the first I can't say that I like. It
is that of an utterly undisciplined woman, with a possibility of great
things in her, but likely to be dangerous for lack of self-knowledge
and humility; an ignorant woman, moreover; one subjected to
superstitions, and aiming at unworthy predominance. The second is
obviously her sister, but how different! An educated woman, this; one
who has learnt a good deal about herself and the world. She is
'emancipated,' in the true sense of the hackneyed word; that is to say,
she is not only freed from those bonds that numb the faculties of mind
and heart, but is able to control the native passions that would make a
slave of her. Now, this face I love."

Miriam did not stir, but a thrill went through her. "One of the
passions that she has subdued," Mallard went on, "is, you can see,
particularly strong in this sister of hers. I mean jealousy. This first
face is that of a woman so prone to jealousy of all kinds that there
would be no wonder if it drove her to commit a crime. The woman whom I
love is superior to idle suspicions; she thinks nobly of her friends;
she respects herself too much to be at the mercy of chance and change
of circumstance."

He paused, and Miriam spoke humbly.

"Do you think it impossible for the first to become like her sister?"

"Certainly not impossible. The fact is that she has already made great
progress in that direction. The first face is not that of an actually
existing person. She has changed much since she looked altogether like
this, so much, indeed, that occasionally I see the sister in her, and
then I love her for the sister's sake. But naturally she has relapses,
and they cannot but affect my love. That word, you know, has such very
different meanings. When I say that I l