"But I said and did nothing remarkable. I felt a little diffident at the thought of an introduction to strangers--that was all."
"I soon saw you were diffident. That was the first thing which reassured me. Had you been rustic, clownish, awkward, I should have been content."
"You puzzle me."
"I had reason to dread a fair outside, to mistrust a popular bearing, to shudder before distinction, grace, and courtesy. Beauty and affability had come in my way when I was recluse, desolate, young, and ignorant--a toil-worn governess perishing of uncheered labour, breaking down before her time. These, Caroline, when they smiled on me, I mistook for angels. I followed them home; and when into their hands I had given without reserve my whole chance of future happiness, it was my lot to witness a transfiguration on the domestic hearth--to see the white mask lifted, the bright disguise put away, and opposite me sat down---- O God, I _have_ suffered!"

"But I said and did nothing remarkable. I felt a little diffident at meeting strangers - that was all."
"I soon saw you were diffident. That was the first thing which reassured me."
"You puzzle me."
"I had reason to dread beauty, to mistrust grace and courtesy. Beauty and affability had come in my way when I was young and desolate - a toil-worn governess breaking down before her time. These, Caroline, when they smiled on me, I mistook for angels. I followed them home; and when I had given my chance of future happiness into their hands, I witnessed a transfiguration - saw the white mask lifted, the bright disguise put away, and opposite me sat down - O God, I have suffered!"
