She acknowledged, moreover, the fidelity
of the painting: but however she might have felt and
acted under different circumstances, absorbed as was her
heart, and paralysed her imagination, by the harrowing
scenes she had gone through, she, too, had room but for
one sentiment in her fainting soul, and that was friendship
for the friend of her brother; on whom, moreover, she
bestowed that woman's gratitude, which could not fail to
be awakened by a recollection of the risks he had
encountered, conjointly with Frederick, to save her from
destruction. During their passage across lake Huron, Sir
Everard had usually taken his seat on the deck, at that
respectful distance which he conceived the delicacy of
the position of the unfortunate cousins demanded; but in
such a manner that, while he seemed wholly abstracted
from them, his eye had more than once been detected by
Clara fixed on hers, with an affectionateness of interest
she could not avoid repaying with a glance of recognition
and approval. These, however, were the only indications
of regard that had passed between them.
If, however, a momentary and irrepressible flashing of
that sentiment, which had, at an earlier period, formed
a portion of their imaginings, did occasionally steal
over their hearts while there was a prospect of reaching
their friends in safety, all manifestation of its power
was again finally suppressed when the schooner fell into
the hands of the savages.
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