She was naturally haughty and impetuous, though generous and sincere.

In spite of her piety, that pride, so difficult to curb, would still break out.

But these infirmities had been zealously combated, until religion had triumphed over the weakness of humanity.

Still, for some time, the Lady Margaret was unhappy, and accused herself of human love in seeking the reconciliation, imputing the revolution in her feelings to a culpable tenderness.

But she soon discovered that vanity--that an aspiration after the _consciousness_ of perfection rather than true piety--occasioned her uneasiness.