From her present bearing I arrived at some gauge of her self-concern, her self-respect.

Now that she was dry, and not overmastered by wet and cold, a sweet and gracious dignity seemed to shine from her, enwrapping her, as it were, with a luminous veil.

It was not that she was by this made or shown as cold or distant, or in any way harsh or forbidding.

On the contrary, protected by this dignity, she seemed much more sweet and genial than before.

It was as though she felt that she could afford to stoop now that her loftiness was realized--that her position was recognized and secure.