Beauty in the Country 



decide. She was asked if it was not time for some 

 one to sing, and the very mistress of the household 

 referred to her whether we should have another round 

 or go in to supper. Of course, she always decided as 

 she supposed the hostess wished. At supper, if there 

 was a delicacy on the table it was invariably offered 

 to her. The eagerness of the elderly gentlemen, who 

 presumed on their grey locks and conventional harm- 

 lessness to press their attentions upon her, showed 

 who was the most attractive person in the room. 

 Younger men feel a certain reserve, and do not reveal 

 their inclinations before a crowd, but the harmless old 

 gentleman makes no secret of his admiration. She 

 managed them all, old and young, with unconscious 

 tact, and never left the ranks of the other ladies as 

 a crude flirt would have done. This tact and way of 

 modestly holding back when so many would have 

 pushed her too much to the front retained for her 

 the good word of her own sex. If a dance was pro- 

 posed it was left to her to say yes or no, and if it was 

 not too late the answer was usually in the affirmative. 

 So in the morning, should we make an excursion to 

 some view or pleasant wood, all eyes rested upon her, 

 and if she thought it fine enough away we went. 



Her features were rather fine, but not especially so ; 

 her complexion a little dusky, eyes grey, and dark 

 hair; her figure moderately tall, slender but shapely. 

 She was always dressed well ; a certain taste marked 

 her in everything. Upon introduction no one would 

 have thought anything of her ; they would have said, 

 " insignificant plain; " in half an hour, " different 

 to most girls; " in an hour, " extremely pleasant; " 

 in a day, " a singularly attractive girl; " and so on, 

 till her empire was established. It was not the 

 features it was the mouth, the curling lips, the 

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