Hehadnotthoughtofit。Hewaslostinagreaterabstraction。
Thatinfinitetenderness，——faraboveawoman’s，——thetendernessofstrengthandmanlinesstowardsweaknessanddelicacy，thetendernessthatlooksdownandnotup，wasalreadypossessinghim。
Aninstinctofprotectiondrewhimnearerthisbowedbutcharmingfigure，andifhethennoticedthattheshoulderswerepretty，andthecurvesoftheslimwaistsymmetrical，itwasratherwithafeelingoftimidityandahalf—consciousnessofunchivalrousthought。Yetwhyshouldhenottrytokeepthebraveandhonestgirlnearhimalways？Whyshouldhenotclaimtherighttoprotecther？Whyshouldtheynot——theywhowerealoneinastrangeland——
jointheirtwolonelylivesformutualhelpandhappiness？
Asuddenperceptionofdelicacy，thethoughtthatheshouldhavespokenbeforeherfailureattheConservatoirehadmadeherfeelherhelplessness，broughtaslightcolortohischeek。Woulditnotseemtoherthathewastakinganunfairadvantageofhermisfortune？Yetitwouldbesoeasynowtoslipalovingarmaroundherwaist，whilehecouldworkforherandprotectherwiththeother。THEOTHER！Hiseyefellonhisemptysleeve。Ah，hehadforgottenthat！HehadbutONEarm！