A BREAKFAST, AND — BROKEN BONES. 143 



of the Tudors, then a black walnut clock of the Stu- 

 arts, in that niche a full tilting suit of the Plantage- 

 nets, in that the baginet and corslet, petronel and 

 broadsword of the commonwealth, and covering all the 

 walls, where they were not pierced by the oriel win- 

 dows, or the low-arched chimney in which a pile of 

 oak-wood was blazing, were massive Gothic book- 

 cases of oak, curtained with green damask. At a 

 centre-table covered with writing implements, portfo- 

 lios, papeteries, and other articles more purely femi- 

 nine, sat the presiding genius of the place, holding a 

 book in her hand, which I think she was not reading 

 very attentively. 



The purplish lustre through the stained glass of the 

 oriel window fell like a glory over her light, golden 

 hair, now braided closely round her classical head, and 

 over her soft and pensive face, to which the decided 

 black brows, and long jetty lashes, now relieved by 

 her transparent cheek, lent so peculiar a character. 

 She was so busily engaged either by her book or by 

 her thoughts, that she did not hear the opening of the 

 door until the butler announced, " Colonel Fairfax." 



Then she rose suddenly, but without any flutter, and 

 came forwa-rd to meet him. "How do you do, Colo- 

 nel Fairfax ; Papa, though he expected you early, was 

 obliged to go down with the bailiff to the home farm on 

 some sudden business, and left me to receive you. So 

 here I am equipped for the field already." 



Beautiful as he had thought her last night, she was 

 lovelier still this morning, from the very contrast af- 

 forded by the serene and innocent style of her features 

 impressed with a strong tinge of romantic fancy, and 

 the huntress' garb, which on any form, less intrinsi- 

 cally womanly, might have been deemed too much a 

 la Die Vernon. A scarlet riding habit, fitting close to 

 her exquisitely moulded bust and shoulders, and cling- 

 ing as if it had been a part of it to her rounded waist, 



