partner of whom, if that were possible, he was more proud than
fond--and of the depth and reality of his affection there could be
no question.

She declined to seat herself in the circle, although warmly
importuned by her guests thus to add brilliancy to their joyous
party, yet remained standing near Rosa, interested and amused by the
running fire of compliment and badinage that went to make up the
hilarious confusion. If the family record had been consulted, the
truth that she had counted her thirty-second summer would have
astonished her husband, with her new neighbors. Apparently she was
not over twenty-five. Her chestnut hair was a marvel for brightness
and profusion, her broad brow smooth and white, her figure, as
Winston had described it to his sister, rounded, even to
voluptuousness, yet supple as it had been at fifteen. In her cheeks,
too, the blushes fluctuated readily and softly, and when she smiled,
her teeth showed like those of a little child in size and purity.
Her voice matched her beauty well, never loud, always melodious,
with a peculiar, gliding, legato movement of the graceful sentences,
for the pleasing effect of which she was indebted partly to Nature,
and much more to Art. She appeared on this evening in a green silk
dress, matronly in shade and general style, but not devoid of
coquettish arrangement in the square corsage, the opening of which
was filled with foam-like puffs of thulle, threatening, when her
bust heaved in mirth or animated speech, to overflow the sheeny
boundaries. A chaplet of ivy-leaves encircled her head, and trailed
upon one shoulder; her bracelets were heavy, chased gold without
gems of any kind; a single diamond glittered--a point of prismatic
light at her throat. Her wedding-ring was her only other ornament.