THE HOSE—THE MOTHER. 
43 
coming a man and a father. We forego the description of his feelings 
as not pertaining to the history at present under consideration. A 
little while before the dinner is served, the lady of the cottage comes 
down to greet her husband’s old friends. 
And here I am sorely tempted to a third description, which has 
nothing to do with the story to be sure, but which if properly struck off 
might fill half a page very prettily. For, is not a young mother one 
of the sweetest sights which life shows us ? If she has been beautiful 
before, does not her present pure joy give a character of refinement 
and sacredness almost to her beauty, touch her sweet cheeks with fairer 
blushes, and impart, I know not what serene brightness to her eyes. 
When Sir Charles Grandison stepped up and made his very grace- 
fullest bow to Miss Byron, I am sure his gracious dignity never exceeded 
that of Colonel Newcome’s first greeting to Mrs. Pendennis. Of course, 
from the very moment they beheld one another they became friends. 
Are not most of our likings thus instantaneous ? Before she came down 
to see him, Laura had put on one of the Colonel s shawls the crimson 
one, with the red palm-leaves and the border of many colours. As 
for the white one, the priceless, the gossamer, the fairy web, that 
might pass through a ring, that every lady must he aware, was already 
appropriated to cover the cradle, or what I belie v T e is called the bassinet, 
of Master Pendennis. 
The Jyewcomes. 
O ROSE, thou flower of flowers, thou fragrant wonder, 
Who shall describe thee in thy ruddy prime? 
Thy perfect fulness in the summer time; 
When the pale leaves blushingly part asunder 
And show the warm red heart lies glowing under: 
Thou shouldst bloom surely in some sunny clime, 
Untouched by blights and chilly winter’s rime, 
Where lightnings never flash, nor peals the thunder. 
And yet in happier spheres they cannot need thee 
So much as we do with our weight of woe: 
Perhaps they would not tend, perhaps not heed thee, 
And thou wouldst lonely and neglected grow; 
And He who is all wise, He hath decreed thee 
To gladden earth and cheer all hearts below. 
C. G. Rossetti. 
