As her
motionless figure and pallid expression appear in yonder door-way,
she would make a good picture of the clay of Eve, before God breathed
life into the perfect form. Oh! that I had such power! I would
give years to light up that face there with the expressions of
which it is capable."
Then Ida saw him, and she turned hastily away, but not before he
caught a glimpse of the blood mounting swiftly to her face. She was
beginning to puzzle him, and to suggest that possibly his estimate
of her character had been superficial.
"Your cousin has not seemed well for the past few days," he remarked
to Stanton.
"Oh! Ida is as full of moods as an April day, only they scarcely
have a vernal simplicity," was the satirical answer. From some
caprice or other she is affecting the pale and interesting style now.
See! she has dressed herself this evening with severe simplicity;
but the minx knows that thin white drapery is more becoming to
her marble cheeks and neck than the richest colors. Besides, she
remembers that it is a sultry evening, and so gets herself up as
cool as a cucumber. By all the jolly gods! but she is statuesque,
isn't she? Say what you please Van, the best of you artists
couldn't imagine a much fairer semblance of a woman than you see
yonder--but when you come to her mental and moral furniture--the
Good Lord deliver us!"
"'Tis pity, 'tis pity," said Van Berg, in a low, regretful tone.
Pages:
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268