magnificent
fulness of outline, with a look of pride and self-possession; she had a
significant word for some, and a lighter for others; age she cheered,
youth she made more gay, and all with an inimitable grace and nobleness
of manner.

A constrained expression sometimes hovered about her lips, but as she
passed from one to another she had a cheerful smile for all, and there
was a magic charm in her friendliness. Even in her outward appearance
she remained a mystery, for no one could tell the exact color of her
eyes, though all were fascinated by their glance.

You might hate Bella, but you could not forget her.

Such must have been Dr. Richard's experience. The Doctor had been
unjust to her, Eric thought, for Bella's leading principle was
ambition, and ambition directed to great ends would appear like
greatness. The feeling that he also had done her injustice, made his
manner towards her more friendly and respectful. Bella seemed to divine
what was passing in him, and nodded to him from time to time graciously
and significantly.

Eric's manner set her mind completely at rest; for in fact she had
sometimes secretly thought: What if this tutor should boast--pah! no
one would believe him. Besides, he is by nature too noble to boast.

And what had happened between them, after all?

She had already found a subject of pride in her first contrition;
having begun by persuading herself that the whole thing had been a
passing exuberance of spirits, a tempting pastime, nothing but sport,
in fact.

And who could contradict her?

She appeared to herself in the light of a heroine who had gloriously
overcome temptation.

Her rehabilitation was so complete as to become the main fact in the
case; indeed, the whole thing seemed to her like a romance she had read
in some book; it had certainly made a great impression upon her, it had
ended differently from what she had expected; but now it was finished,
done with, laid aside, returned to the desk of the library. Yes, Bella
could laugh at the idea of her still being so impressionable; she was
almost proud of being still so naive in her feelings, still capable of
being carried away. Now it was all over, and she was ready for
something else.

She exchanged a few words with Eric and Weidmann, rejoicing that the
two had found one another, and hoping that Eric would often come to see
Clodwig and herself, that so they might enjoy some more intellectual
talk together, and be brou