Page images
PDF
EPUB

opportunity for an introduction. I do not pretend to be a judge of female beauty, but I thought her a very lovely girl. I liked her eyes particularly: they were of a soft clear hazel brown, large and well cut, with a kind of faithful expression in them; they harmonized in tone with a quantity of light brown hair, gathered round a head more remarkable for development in the sentiments than the intellect— a low broad emotional forehead-and one of the most exquisitely tinted complexions it is possible to conceive, almost resembling the hue of the inner part of some of our most delicate seashells. She had beautiful lips, mouth, and chin, but about the latter a critical eye might have detected a good deal of irresolution; her face was like an April day in its light and shadow, the smile sometimes sunny, sometimes a little pensive, but always very sweet. Her manner of moving and speaking was graceful and sparkling, with the gaiété de cœur which seemed part of her nature; and, lastly, she had in perfection that ease which often results from the inward certainty

of possessing the power of pleasing others at will. It might be, there were not wanting indications of a luxurious, pleasure-loving temperamentthat music, flowers, delicious perfumes, enervating luxury, and the enjoyment of all those good things which are commonly said to make this earth dear to the children of men, would be, if not craved for, at least welcomed by her. It may be that she was not pre-eminently intellectual; not difficult to vanquish in argument; that she had not an atom of the martyr in her composition; that the opinion of the world always had and would have great weight with her ; and that, above all, she was utterly incapable of vexing herself with the general unfixedness of her principles on the so-called great questions of the day. But that she was very beautiful, very loving, and very loveable, few men seemed disposed to deny.

Mrs. Lackingham was likewise pointed out to me a fashionable woman of the world, still possessing the remains of considerable personal attractions. Her conscience or her health must

have been particularly good, for the embonpoint which is the reward of luxurious food and mental calm had not deserted her; and if she bore herself with a certain humility, I hope Heaven will pardon me in that it did but suggest the thought of what her deportment would have been had she never encountered cross or care. Her manner was almost too suave, too honeyed, when contrasted with the strange coldness of her eyes; and that smooth, creamy complexion was too passionless to bear much heart beneath it.

Perhaps she was but the type of many a hundred others—at least, so I thought then; but I had to change my opinion in the end, and confess with thankfulness that, even in the fashionable world, a complete counterpart of Mrs. Lackingham is rarely met with.

When I informed George of what I had seen and thought, his friendship for me became more demonstrative than before, and his confidences

more unreserved.

0

CHAPTER III

MR. TREMLETT AND HIS ENTAILED

POSSESSIONS.

ONE evening a card was given me, on which was engraved the name of Mr. Tremlett, of Hall, and a gentleman, who apparently numbered something over threescore years, entered the

room.

Mr. Tremlett was one of an old family, decaying not in its wealth or its territorial influence, but in that which money cannot purchase, and for which broad acres fail to make amends-in its blood, and brain, and sinew. Its members had married in and in, to amass property and add estate to estate, until that amount of disease which is the logical result became the legacy of the present generation; and the parent stock dwindled down in numbers,

have been particularly good, for the embonpoint which is the reward of luxurious food and mental calm had not deserted her; and if she bore herself with a certain humility, I hope Heaven will pardon me in that it did but suggest the thought of what her deportment would have been had she never encountered cross or care. Her manner was almost too suave, too honeyed, when contrasted with the strange coldness of her eyes; and that smooth, creamy complexion was too passionless to bear much heart beneath it.

Perhaps she was but the type of many a hundred others—at least, so I thought then; but I had to change my opinion in the end, and confess with thankfulness that, even in the fashionable world, a complete counterpart of Mrs. Lackingham is rarely met with.

When I informed George of what I had seen and thought, his friendship for me became more demonstrative than before, and his confidences

[graphic]

more unreserved.

« PreviousContinue »