The sweet feminine gentleness and youthful softness of the girl's face,
looked inexpressibly lovely, as she now stood shy and confused under
the eager eyes that were all gazing on her. Her dress, too, had never
more powerfully aided the natural attractions of her face and figure by
its own loveable charms of simplicity and modesty, than now, when the
plain grey merino gown, and neat little black silk apron which she
always wore, were contrasted with the fashionable frippery of fine
colors shining all around her. Was the rough Mr. Marksman himself lured
at first sight into acknowledging her influence? If he was, his face
and manner showed it very strangely.
Almost at the instant when his eyes fell on her, that clay-cold change
which had altered the color of his swarthy cheeks in the hosier's shop
at Dibbledean, passed over them again. The first amazed look that he
cast on her, slowly darkened, while his eyes rested on her face, into a
fixed, heavy, vacant stare of superstitious awe. He never moved, he
hardly seemed to breathe, until the head of a person before him
accidentally intercepted his view. Then he stepped back a few paces;
looked about him bewildered, as if he had forgotten where he was; and
turned quickly towards the door, as if resolved to leave the room
immediately.
Pages:
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401