It would
have required a man, not merely of greater goodness than James, but of
greater insight into the realities of life as well, to perceive the worth
and superiority of the girl who waited upon him with a devotion far more
angelic than servile; for whatever might have seemed to savour of the
latter, had love, hopeless of personal advantage, at the root of it.
Thus things went on for a while, with a continuous strengthening of the
pleasant yet not altogether easy bonds in which Isobel walked, and a
constant increase of the attraction that drew the student to the self-
yielding girl; until the appearance of another lodger in the house was the
means of opening Blatherwick's eyes to the state of his own feelings, by
occasioning the birth and recognition of a not unnatural jealousy, which
"gave him pause." On Isy's side there was not the least occasion for this
jealousy, and he knew it; but not the less he saw that, if he did not mean
to go further, here he must stop--the immediate result of which was that he
began to change a little in his behaviour toward her, when at any time she
had to enter his room in ministration to his wants.
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