"Upon this followed much confused talk, during which the English lady
declared nothing easier than to prove friendship, or the love of
brothers, the kind of thing she had said.
"Most of the company believed the young widow but talking to show off;
while not a few felt that they desired no nearer acquaintance with one
whose words, whatever might be her thoughts, degraded humanity. The
circle was very speedily broken into two segments, one that liked the
English lady, and one that almost hated her.
"From that moment, the English widow set before her the devil-victory of
alienating two hearts that loved each other--and she gained it for a
time--until Death proved stronger than the Devil. People said we could
not be parted: _she_ would part us! She began with my brother. To tell
how I know that she began with him, I should have to tell how she began
with me, and that I cannot do; for, little one, I dare not let the tale
of the treacheries of a bad woman toward an unsuspecting youth, enter
your ears. Suffice it to say, such a woman has well studied those regions
of a man's nature into which, being less divine, the devil in her can
easier find entrance. There, she knows him better than he knows himself;
and makes use of her knowledge, not to elevate, but to degrade him. She
fills him with herself, and her animal influences. She gets into his
self-consciousness beside himself, by means of his self-love.
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