Her plainness and the difference in their ages she took for granted, and subtly persuaded Raoul to take for granted; she had no affectations, no _minauderies_; by instinct she avoided setting up any illusion which he could not share; unconsciously and naturally she rested her strength on the maternal, protective side of love.

Raoul came to her with his woes, his difficulties, his quarrel against fate; and she talked them over with him, and advised him almost as might a wise elder sister.

She had read the _Confessions_; and, in spite of the missing pages, with less of fascination than disgust; yet had absorbed more than she knew.

In Raoul she recognised certain points of likeness to his great countryman--points which had puzzled, her in the book.

Now the book helped her to treat them, though she was unaware of its help.