wemightwellthenstartwhenagayvoice,sweetasasilverbell,exclaimed—

    “Goodevening,Mr.Rivers.Andgoodevening,oldCarlo.Yisquickertnisehisfriendsthanyouare,sir;heprickedhisearsandwaggedhistailwhenIwasatthebottomofthefield,andyouhaveyourbacktowardsmenow.”

    Itwastrue.ThoughMr.Rivershadstartedatthefirstofthosemusicalats,asifathunderbolthadsplitacloudoverhishead,hestoodyet,atthecloseofthesentehesameattitudeinwhichthespeakerhadsurprisedhim—hisarmrestingoe,hisfacedirectedtowardsthewest.Heturlast,withmeasureddeliberation.Avision,asitseemedtome,hadrisenathisside.Thereappeared,withinthreefeetofhim,aformcladie—ayouthful,gracefulform:full,yetfineintour;andwhen,afterbendingtocaressCarlo,itliftedupitshead,andthrewbackaloherebloomedunderhisglanceafaceofperfectbeauty.Perfectbeautyisastrongexpression;butIdoraceorqualifyit:assweetfeaturesaseverthetemperateclimeofAlbionmoulded;aspurehuesofroseandlilyaseverherhumidgalesandvapouryskiesgeedandsed,justified,inthisinstaheterm.Nocharmwaswanting,erceptible;theyounggirlhadregularanddelicatelis;eyesshapedandcolouredasweseetheminlovelypictures,large,anddark,andfull;thelongandshadowyeyelashwhicirclesafihsosoftafasation;thepencilledbrowwhichgivessuchclearhewhitesmoothforehead,whichaddssuchreposetothelivelierbeautiesoftintandray;thecheekoval,fresh,andsmooth;thelips,freshtoo,ruddy,healthy,sweetlyformed;theevenandgleamihwithoutflaw;thesmalldimpled;theorofrich,pleresses—alladvantages,inshort,whibined,realisetheidealofbeauty,werefullyhers.Iwondered,asIlook