Her modesty, her grace, were like those of the pretty flower Emmanuel had feared to name lest he should betray the secret of his heart.

Her sentiments were lofty, her principles religious, she would undoubtedly make him a faithful wife: moreover, she not only flattered the vanity which influences every man more or less in the choice of a wife, but she gratified his pride by the high consideration which her family, doubly ennobled, enjoyed in Flanders,--a consideration which her husband of course would share.
The next day Pierquin extracted from his strong-box several thousand-franc notes, which he offered with great friendliness to Balthazar, so as to relieve him of pecuniary annoyance in the midst of his grief.

Touched by this delicate attention, Balthazar would, he thought, praise his goodness and his personal qualities to Marguerite.
In this he was mistaken.

Monsieur Claes and his daughter thought it was a very natural action, and their sorrow was too absorbing to let them even think of the lawyer.
Balthazar's despair was indeed so great that persons who were disposed to blame his conduct could not do otherwise than forgive him,--less on account of the Science which might have excused him, than for the remorse which could not undo his deeds.

Society is satisfied by appearances: it takes what it gives, without considering the intrinsic worth of the article.