The supernatural, however,
in the course of a little time, prevailed, as it was only reasonable
to suppose it would in such a temperament as hers; and as her mind
proceeded to struggle with the two impressions, she felt that her dread
of Woodward was gradually gaining upon and absorbing the other. Her
fear of him, consequently, was deadly; that terrible and malignant
eye--notwithstanding its dark brilliancy and awful beauty, alas! too,
significant of its power--was constantly before her imagination, gazing
upon her with a fixed, determined, and mysterious look, accompanied by
a smile of triumph, which deepened its satanity, if we may be allowed to
coin a word, at every glance. It was not mere antipathy she felt for him
now, but dread and horror. How, then, was she to act? She had pledged
herself to receive his visits upon one condition, and to permit him
to continue a friendly intimacy altogether apart from love. How, then,
could she violate her word, or treat him with rudeness, who had always
not only treated her with courtesy, but expressed an interest in her
happiness which she had every reason to believe sincere? Thus was the
poor girl entangled with difficulties on every side without possessing
any means of releasing herself from them.
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