that she should have executed. It would have been decidedly
plain but for a precious quality which no perfection of
chiselling can give when the temperament denies it, and which
no facial irregularity can take away--a tender
affectionateness which might almost be called yearning; such
as is often seen in the women of Correggio when they are
painted in profile. But the plain features of Miss De Stancy-
-who she undoubtedly was--were rather severely handled by
Somerset's judgment owing to his impression of the previous
night. A beauty of a sort would have been lent by the
flexuous contours of the mobile parts but for that unfortunate
condition the poor girl was burdened with, of having to hand
on a traditional feature with which she did not find herself
otherwise in harmony.

She glanced at him for a moment, and showed by an
imperceptible movement that he had made his presence felt.
Not to embarrass her Somerset hastened to withdraw, at the
same time that she passed round to the other part of the
terrace, followed by the cat, in whom Somerset could imagine a
certain denominational cast of countenance, notwithstanding
her company. But as white cats are much alike each other at a
distance, it was reasonable to suppose this creature was not
the same one as that possessed by the beauty.



IV.

He descended the stone stairs to a lower story of the castle,