BEAUTY IN THE COUNTItY, 203 



narrowest space possible, which is ever so faintly 

 less coloured than the substance of the lip. This 

 makes the mouth appear larger than it really is ; the 

 bow, too, is more flattened than in the pure Greek 

 lip. It is beautiful, but not perfect, tempting, 

 mischievous, not retiring, and belongs to a Tvoman 

 who is never long alone. To describe it first is 

 natural, because this mouth is itself the face, and 

 the rest of the features are grouped to it. If you 

 think of her you think of her mouth only — ^the face 

 appears as memory acts, but the mouth is distinct, 

 the remainder uncertain. She laughs and the curl 

 runs upwards, so that you must laugh too, you 

 cannot help it. Had the curl gone downwards, as 

 with habitually melancholy people, you might have 

 withstood her smile. The room is never dull where 

 she is, for there is a distinct character in it — a 

 woman — and not a mere living creature, and it is 

 noticeable that if there are five or six or more present, 

 somehow the conversation centres round her. 



There was a lady I knew who had lips hke these. 

 Of the kind they were perfect. Though she was 

 barely fourteen she was the woman of that circle 

 by the magnetism of her mouth. When we all met 

 together in the evening all that went on in some way 

 or other centred about her. By consent* the choice 

 of what game should be played was left to her to 

 decide. She was asked if it was not time.-|or 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 



