The Portrait: a Sketch. [MARCH, 



heard a whispering near me. Sometimes I caught a glimpse of a smile, 

 suddenly suppressed. On one occasion I seemed to give no small um- 

 brage to a gentleman who stood in front of me. A lady was leaning 

 on his arm. I had heard a sigh so deep, that, in spite of my absorption, 

 it attracted my notice. I withdrew my eyes from the portrait, and they 

 fell upon the lady, who was in the act of turning away ; but I encoun- 

 tered the gaze of her companion, whose countenance betrayed an expres- 

 sion of mingled impatience and resentment, so strong, that my own 

 began to lour, and I was on the point of starting from my chair, when 

 he looked another way, and conducted his companion to the opposite 

 side of the room. . She wore a cloak, and was veiled. I was surprised 

 at the incident. I never after entered the Exhibition without looking 

 about for the gentleman and his fair friend, but I never met them there 



again. 



******* 



" Hang the Exhibition !" exclaimed Armstrong ; te you shall take a 

 lounge with me this morning." I was on the point of walking in, when 

 he thrust his arm through mine, and took me by main force along with 

 him. 



" That woman has a figure !" cried he. I listened, but noted not the 

 object of remark. My eyes were in the Exhibition. 



(C Her waist," continued he, " is as natural as her neck which she 

 carries so well. She doesn't squeeze it. There is too much pliancy 

 there for much constraint." We were walking in Sackville Street; 

 which, from noon till dinner-time, may be called the Mall of Dublin. 

 " The fall of her shoulders," added he, " is the most graceful thing 

 imaginable ! Do you mark it ?" 



" Yes," replied I, poring upon the figure in the Exhibition-room. 



" So much for her back/' resumed Armstrong. " We have not seen 

 her face yet ; but the pleasure is at hand. She'll be sure to turn at the 

 end of the street. Depend upon it she and her fair friend have not put 

 on their bonnets and shawls for nothing but a walk to the Rotunda and 

 back again. Slacken your pace," continued he. " Now for it ! Has a 

 well-turned ankle never played you a trick ? For once that I have 

 been obliged to one for a handsome face, I may reckon fifty introduc- 

 tions to a homely one. Now for it, my lad ! Right about, wheel. By 

 Jupiter, she is an angel !" 



I mechanically raised my eyes. There was the portrait, in living flesh 

 and blood before me ! Our eyes met I stopped short she hesitated 

 too coloured and the next moment she and her companion passed on. 

 We followed. 



How my heart beat ! Its agitation became almost insupportable as 

 we drew near the other end of the street, where I hoped they would 

 turn again. They were within three or four yards of it they slackened 

 their pace. Kind fortune ! " Are you ready ?" exclaimed a voice. 

 They stopped a gentleman had accosted them out of a barouche, that 

 had drawn up to the side of the flags. 'Twas the identical individual, 

 the peculiarity of whose deportment had struck me in the Exhibition- 

 room. He sprung out of the carriage, handed the fair partners in, and 

 stepping in after them, they drove off. 



" Whither are you going .like a madman?" exclaimed Armstrong. 



" To follow them !" replied I, scarce conscious of what to do. 



" Follow your dinner !" rejoined he ; " or rather wait upon it. You 



