During this operation Richard kept up a desultory dialogue with the
different domestics, occasionally throwing out a remark to the Judge
concerning the deer; but as his conversation at such moments was much
like an accompaniment on a piano, a thing that is heard without being
attended to, we will not undertake the task of recording his diffuse
discourse,

The instant that Remarkable Pettibone had executed her portion of the
labor in illuminating, she returned to a position near Elizabeth, with
the apparent motive of receiving the clothes that the other threw
aside, but in reality to examine, with an air of curiosity—not unmixed
with jealousy—the appearance of the lady who was to supplant her in
the administration of their domestic economy. The housekeeper felt a
little appalled, when, after cloaks, coats, shawls, and socks had been
taken off in succession, the large black hood was removed, and the
dark ringlets, shining like the raven’s wing, fell from her head, and
left the sweet but commanding features of the young lady exposed to
view. Nothing could be fairer and more spotless than the forehead of
Elizabeth, and preserve the appearance of life and health. Her nose
would have been called Grecian, but for a softly rounded swell, that
gave in character to the feature what it lost in beauty. Her mouth,
at first sight, seemed only made for love; but, the instant that its
muscles moved, every expression that womanly dignity could utter
played around it with the flexibility of female grace. It spoke not
only to the ear, but to the eye. So much, added to a form of
exquisite proportions, rather full and rounded for her years, and of
the tallest medium height, she inherited from her mother. Even the
color of her eye, the arched brows, and the long silken lashes, came
from the same source; but its expression was her father’s. Inert and
composed, it was soft, benevolent, and attractive; but it could be