btain a solution of the enigma of this antipathy, the young
gentleman concluded to trust entirely to the results of his
observations, which, however, were far from being definitive; for his
reason was imposed upon by his feelings, and, from day to day, the
charms of the beautiful woman were steadily progressing in throwing a
seductive spell over his judgment. The banker's daughter possessed a
high degree of culture; she was a perfect mistress of the tactics
employed on the field of coquetry; her tact was exquisite; and she
understood thoroughly how to take advantage of a kindly disposition and
of the tenderness inspired by passion. How was the eye of Seraphin,
strengthened neither by knowledge nor by experience, to detect the true
worth of what lay hidden beneath this fascinating delusion?

Here again his religious training came to the rescue of the
inexperienced youth, by furnishing him with standards safe and
unfalsified, by which to weigh and come to a conclusion.

Louise's indifference to practices of piety annoyed him. She never
attended divine service, not even on Sundays. He never saw her with a
prayer-book, nor was a single picture illustrative of a moral subject
to be found hung up in her apartment. Her conversation, at all times,
ran upon commonplaces of everyday concern, such as the toilet, theatre,
society. He noticed that whenever he ventured to launch matter of a
more serious import upon the current of conversation, it immediately
became constrained and soon ceased to flow. Louise appeared to his
heart at the same time so fascinating and yet so peculiar, so seductive
and yet so repulsive, that the contradictions of her being caused him
to feel quite unhappy.

He was again sitting in his room thinking about her. In the interview
he had just had with her, the young lady had exerted such admirable
powers of womanly charms that the poor young man had had a great deal
of trouble to maintain his self-possession. Her ringing, mischievous
laugh was still sounding in his ears, and the brightness of her
sparkling, eyes was still lighting up his memory. And the unsuspecting
youth had no Solomon at his side to repeat to him: "My son, can a man
hide fire in his bosom, and his garments not burn? Or can he walk upon
hot coals, and his feet not be burnt?... She entangleth him with many
words, and she draweth him away with the flattery of her lips.
Immediately he followeth her as an ox led to be a victim, and as a lamb