314 THE LOVLR OF BEAUTY; 



and abstracted. Henry could scarcely repress an apostrophe of 

 transport; Mrs. Atherstone smiled at his visible emotion, and 

 Lady Eleanor, shaking back her lon*^: black tresses, lisped out a 

 remark, for the silliness of which a boarding-school chit would 

 have merited correction. The dream vanished — the spell dis- 

 solved ! w ith a sigh of regret, accompanied by a blush of mortifi- 

 cation, Henry threw himself back upon the couch on which he 

 was seated, and fixed his eyes on the ceiling, muttering, almost 

 audibly, "she is a model for a painter, a vision for a poet, and a 

 companion for a fool !" 



In the evening, Mrs. Atherstone proposed music as an enlivener 

 of the circle; a harp was brought forward, and, after infinite 

 persuasion. Lady Eleanor condescended to take her place at the 

 instrument : something like genuine diffidence appeared to 

 actuate her, and while bending over the harp, and striking a few 

 preparatory chords, the fascinated Henry felt that he had never, 

 no never beheld anything so purely beautiful. After a prelude 

 of astonishing science, the fair statue commenced singing in a 

 style of richness, passionate sweetness, and harmony, which 

 rivetted the young soldier to the spot. Malibran was, with him, 

 nothing in comparison, and when the last tones vibrated upon 

 his ear, absolute ecstacy held him silent : his eyes — his brilliant 

 and impassioned eyes, only, could betray his emotions; and he 

 was standing, completely spell-bound by the unexpected charm, 

 when, suddenly, the potent magician, raising lier superb orbs, 

 pushed away the harp and pettishly declared that she was 

 ** completely ennuyee of the instrument." Her cold, empty, and 

 artificial tone recalled Henry's wandering ideas ; — a fairy fabric 

 of imagination — a chateau en Espagne fell to pieces immediately ; 

 he was, once more, a mortal, she once more a simpleton ! " And 

 this is but acquired" he reflected, "this is but the triumph of 

 art ! How many laborious hours must have been devoted to the 

 acquisition of this enthralling accomplishment! She sings with 

 the voice of passion, of tenderness, of mental majesty, but she 

 feels not! she thinks not! — it is mechanical, — the result of 

 cultivation carried to the highest extreme : and yet," continued 

 he, " I ever thought that mind was a component in the formation 

 of a perfect vocalist." * * * 



The next morning Lady Eleanor did not choose to be visible; 

 fatigue had overpowered her, and her chocolate was served in 

 her own chamber. The Colonel and Mrs. Atherstone exchanged 

 a significant look when her apology was presented, and Henry 

 felt half-inclined to quarrel with the circumstance of her absence : 

 no Guebre ever worshipped the sun more fervently than he 

 worshipped beauty, and to be deprived, unexpectedly, of the 

 luxury of contemplating the most faultless countenance he had 

 ever beheld, ivas unendurable. In silent moodiness he demolished 

 his roll, and then sauntered from the room to indulge in a 

 solitary ramble. " Had she but risen, he could have driven her 



