His attention was so much engrossed, that the light step of Madeline did not disturb him; and she paused—paused to contemplate an object who, though unknown, had strongly interested her.
He appeared of the first order of fine forms; and to all the graces of person and bloom of youth, united a countenance open, manly, and intelligent, but overcast by a shade of melancholy, which seemed to declare him acquainted with misfortune, and from nature and self experience formed to sympathize with every child of sorrow; his hat lay beside him, and the breeze had wafted aside his dark hair from his forehead, and discovered his polished brows, where, according to the words of the poet, "sate young simplicity;" in his eyes, as he sometimes raised them from the paper, was a fine expression, at once indicative of refinement and sensibility; and as Madeline gazed on them, she involuntarily said to herself, one glance from those benignant eyes
