Volume II Part 25 (1/2)

I appealed to my landlady from the top of the kitchen stairs, and she said a man in livery had left it, and was to call for an answer I read the same on the spot; it had no seal to break, but isted backwards and forwards, and had this merit, that it was very difficult to open It was from Miss Lawrence, without any co to dinner, at the awful hour of seven Never having dined at seven o'clock in my existence, nor even at six, I was lost in the prospect, and almost desired to decline, but that I had no excuse of any kind on hand; and therefore compelled myself to frame a polite assent, which I despatched, and then sat down to practise

I made out to myself that she would certainly be alone, as she was the very person to have fashi+onable habits on her own account, or at least that she would be surroundedto her in her home But I was still unconfessedly nervous when I drew the door after me and issued into the streets, precisely as the quarter chimes had struck for seven, and while the streets still streaht, and all was defined as at noon

When I entered the square so large and still, with its broad roads and tranquil centre-piece of green, I was appalled to observe a carriage or two, and flattered myself they were at another door; but they had drawn up at the very front, alas! that I had visited in thestood aside to perer ladies in white, to illustrate the doorway intheir procession first Then I came on, and was rather surprised to find entleyman, deprived me of my hat and showed me upstairs directly It struckupon my forehead as it should do, and that I was not anxious to tie ain, as I was to be ad-room _in statu quo_

I ascended It was a well-staircase, whose great height was easy of attain lowness of the steps; stone, with a narrow cri-place was a brilliant globe of hue-roo; I walked straight in, and by instinct straight up to the lady of the house, who as instantly met me with a frank familiarity that differs from all other, and supersedes the rarest courtesy

I had a vague idea that Miss Lawrence must have been married since I saw her, so completely was she mistress of herself, and so easy was her deportment,--not to speak of her dress, which was black lace, with a single feather in her hair of the reen; but unstudied as very few costumes are, even of h, for some one addressed her by name,--a broad-featured man behind her,--and she turned her head alone, and answered him over her shoulder

She dismissed him very shortly, or sent hiht lead one of her knights, by her finger-tips, sloves, while she held her own gloves in her other hand--to a gentleentleman of the old school, to whom she introduced ain to a low easy-chair, out of a group of easy-chairs close by the piano, and herself sat down quite near me, on the extreme corner of an immense embroidered ottoan in her genial voice,--”a dinner, which I should not have dreamed to annoy you with, but for one party we expect You have seen Seraphael, of course, and the little Burney? Or perhaps not; they have been in town only two days”

I was about to express so rather beyond surprise, when a fresh appearance at the door carried her away, and I could only watch the green plume in despair as it waved away frolanced round the rooh and so apportioned that one felt no space to spare

The draperies, withdrawn for the sunset smile to enter, were of palest sky-color, the walls of the palest blush, the tables in corners, the chairs in clusters, the cabinets in niches, gilt and carven, were of the deepest blue and criinable hues, like dashed flower-petals Luxurious as was the furniture, in nothing it offended even the calmest taste, and the choicest al leisure

The pianoforte was a grand one, of dark and lustrous polish; its stools were velvet; a large lalobe, issued from a branch in the wall immediately over it, and harmonized with a circle of those same lamps above the centre otto a beautiful French clock, and reflected in a sheet of perfect glass sweeping to the ceiling

There were about five and twenty persons present, who seemed multiplied, by their manner and their dresses, into thrice as many, and ould have presented a formidable aspect but for the hopes roused withinthe hum and peculiar rustle, to scrutinize the faces present

There were none worth carrying away, except that shaded by the emerald plu it would return tofor soeneral lull; two minutes by my watch (as I ascertained, very i before a set dinner Suddenly, while I was yet gazing after our hostess, the door flew open, and I heard a voice repeat,--

”The Chevalier Seraphael and Mr Burney!”

They entered calmly, as I could hear,--not see, for my eyes seemed to turn in my head, and I involuntarily looked away The former approached the hostess, who had advanced alhtly, for his late appearance, adding a feords in a lower tone which I could not catch He was still holding his companion by the hand, and, before they had time to part, the dinner was announced with state

I lost sight of hined to me, a head taller than myself, who held a handkerchief in her hand that looked like a lace veil, and shook it in my face as alked down the stairs I can never sympathize with the abuse heaped upon these dinner-parties, as I have heard, since I recall that especial occasion, not only grateful, but with a sense of its Arabian Night-like char with da silver, the flashi+ng crystal, the blaze and rance, and the picture quiet

As we passed in noiselessly and sat down one by one, I saw that the genius, apart from these, was seated by Miss Lawrence at the top of the table, and I was at the very bottoh certainly opposite

Staras on my own side, but far above me I was constrained to talk with the lady I had seated next th, to listen while she answered; but I was not constrained to look upon her, nor did I, nor anything but that face so long removed, so suddenly and inexplicably restored

It is ie that had crept upon those faultless features, nor how it touched me, clove tohealthful bloom of his very early youth: a perfect paleness toned his face, as if with purity out-shadowed,--such pearly clearness flinging into relief the starry distance of his full, deep-colored eyes; the forehead more bare, more arched, was distinctly veined, and the temples were of chiselled keenness; the cheek was thinner, the Hebrew contour ained in apparent calaze you could peer into those orbs so evening-blue, their starlight was passionately restless

He was talking to Miss Lawrence; he scarcely ceased, but his conversation was evidently not that which ie thwarted the paleness I have ue She to whom he spoke, on the contrary, seehtened more and more, she flashed, not only fro cheek, her brilliant suished; it assuredly was the time of ”all her wealth,” and had her mood possessed no other char contrast with his pale aspect and indrawn expression

It was during dessert, when the converse had sprung up like a sudden air in a calance unconsciously thawed, that--as I watched the little hands I so loved gleaers separated one by one--I passed insensibly to the countenance It was sh the lips, which folded theain; but not until I had known the dawn of the old living expression, that, though it had slept, I felt noas able to awaken, and with more thankfulness than I can put into words He was of those who stood at the door when the ladies withdrew, and after their retreat he began to speak tome, with a skill I could not appreciate too delicately, to the n to Starwood to take the chair now empty next me

This was exactly what I wanted, for I had not seen him in the least,--not that I was afraid he had altered, but that I was anxious to encounter hirown more than I expected; his blue eye was the sareat power seely well forh delicate; his voice was that which I rehtly his style,--only not his manner, which no one could approach or ilass of wine, that the Chevalier had been to Miss Lawrence's that very , and left me at the hotel; when he caht Miss Lawrence had asked hied for every one but this She was very sorry, she said, that her father had a party to-day The Chevalier, however, did not mind, he told her, and should be very happy to come anyhow”

”But how does it happen that he is so constantly engaged? It cannot be to concerts every evening?”

”Carl, you have no idea how ed; the rehearsals are to be every other day, and the rest of the evenings he has been worried into accepting invitations I wish to goodness people would let him alone; if they knehat I know they would”