In a little while all will be tested."
He conducted her back and took leave of her with a solemn tenderness
which spoke far more than his words how much was now at stake. After
his departure Georgiana became rapt in musings. She considered the
character of Aylmer, and did it completer justice than at any previous
moment. Her heart exulted, while it trembled, at his honorable
love,--so pure and lofty that it would accept nothing less than
perfection nor miserably make itself contented with an earthlier
nature than he had dreamed of. She felt how much more precious was such
a sentiment than that meaner kind which would have borne with the
imperfection for her sake, and have been guilty of treason to holy love
by degrading its perfect idea to the level of the actual; and with her
whole spirit she prayed that, for a single moment, she might satisfy
his highest and deepest conception. Longer than one moment she well
knew it could not be; for his spirit was ever on the march, ever
ascending, and each instant required something that was beyond the
scope of the instant before.
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