Volume II Part 23 (1/2)
Had it not been for her name, which touched my memory, I could not have remembered her,--certainly, at least, not then
Perhaps, ere seated opposite at table, with nothing between us but a vase of garden flowers, I ht havechivalry to assist the hostess in the dissection of spring chickens and roasted la besides about that very Laura I did not like to face until she should at least speak and reveal herself, as by the voice one cannot fail to do
However she spoke not, nor did Clara speak to her, though o talked a good deal,--that is to say, _I_ talked, as so it behooved me to behave, and as I wished to see Miss Benette eat When, at last, all traces of the snowy damask were swept out by a pair of careful hands, and ere left alone with the cut decanters, the early strawberries, and sweet sues, I did determine to look, for fear Miss Lemark should think I did not dare to do so I was nother to be quite capable of this construction, as I discovered on regarding her immediately
Her childish nonchalance had ripened into a hauteur quite alarht have been ten years older Not that her form was not lithe,--lithe as it could be to be endoith the proper complement of muscles,--but for a certain sharpness of outline her countenance would have been languid in repose; her brow retained its singular breadth, but had not gained in elevation; her eyes were large and lah not darker than her hair, which waved as thein slightly-turned tresses to her waist That waist was so extreht that it scarcely looked natural, and yet was entirely so, as was evident from the way she moved in her clothes
She afforded a curious contrast to Clara in her black silk robe, for she was dressed in muslin of the deepest rose-color, with an is lace entirely, the sleeves dropped upon her arms, which were loaded with bracelets of all kinds, while she wore a splendid chain upon her neck She bore this over effect very well, and would not have beco faded in her appearance even then,--a want of color in her aspect that demanded of costurown, Miss Lemark,” I ventured to say, after I had conterown; she was taller than I
”So have you, Mr Auchester”
”She has grown in ine,” said Clara, with a winningyou pleased, I am afraid, Miss Benette, if you inspiredthat we shouldas we did the first time in our lives”
”It was rather different then,” exclaimed Laura, all abruptly, ”and the difference is, not that we are grown up, but that e met on the first occasion, we told each other our minds, and noe don't dare”
”I am sure I dare,” I retorted
”No, you would not, no ht, but it would be of no use”
”What did I say then that I dare not say now? I am sure I don't re; ”I think it is hardly fair to make _her_ remind you”
”It is ar, and you told ht so then, I otten it now, Miss Lerant, when I look at you”
”You do not adainst your taste Even Clara does not approve of it, and you have not half her forbearance,--if, indeed, you have any”
”nobody, Laura dear, would dispute that you can bearthan I can; it does not suit me to wear colors, and you look like a flower in them Does not that color suit her well, Mr Auchester?”
”Indeed I think so, and especially this glorious weather, when theout of every old stone But Miss Lereen,--a very unusual suitability; it is the hue of her eyes, I think”
Laura had looked doith that hauteur ht of her eyes was lost; she drew in the corners of her mouth, and turned a shade colder, if not paler, in co, till she said, without raising her eyes,--
”You know, Clara, that is not the reason you wear black and I do not
You know that you look well in anything, because nobody looks at anything you happen to wear Besides, there is a reason I could give if I chose”
”There is no other reason that you know of, Laura,” she answered, and then she asked me a question on quite another subject
I was rather anxious to discover whether Laura had fulfilled her destiny as far as we had compassed ours; but I did not find it easy, for she scarcely spoke, and had not lost a certain abstraction in her air that alienated the observer insensibly from her After dinner Clara rose, and I , which she met so that I could not refuse her invitation to remain at least an hour or two We all three retired into the little drawing-room; Miss Benette placed me a chair in the open hich I had admired, and herself sat down opposite, easily as a child, and saying, ”I will not be rude to-day, as I used to be, in taking out my henever you came”
”It suited you very well, however, and I perceive, by your kind present to otten that delicate art of yours”
”I had laid it aside, except to work for babies, so since I had a baby to work for; and when Mr Davy sent irl was born, I was so rejoiced to be able to ed to you on a former occasion too, Miss Benette”