affections were not engaged by the cynical old epicurean with his head on one side, cutting into a conversation with the injunction, "Don't put too much sugar in." When he ejaculated, after a pause, "Keep stirring," Elizabeth declared he was as caustic as Pope; but for her part she loved better the robin who twittered on the window-sill—the Burns among the birds. Mrs. Shaw, on the other hand, found in "Coco" an unfailing source of entertainment and delight. She hovered about his perch, she scratched his venerable head, she walked about the room with him on her shoulder, she gave him red peppers—there was no end to the graceful little blandishments she lavished. And then she was hilariously shocked at all his pungent observations. Elizabeth often thought that, artistically, they would make a pretty picture; morally, they were a curious study to the girl.
All this took place during a visit she and her father paid to Farley Manor, when she was nearly seventeen.
Upon that occasion she met for the first time a man who was to exercise a considerable influence upon her after-life. Colonel Wybrowe was five and thirty, of uncommon height and strength, and great distinction of appearance. He was undeniably very handsome, and would have been perfectly so, but for a cast in his left eye, which detracted from the beauty of his face. The beauty, indeed, was almost effeminate in its regularity, except the mouth, which was partially concealed by a long fair moustache. His colouring was splendid—so Elizabeth said; indeed, for splendour of appearance, she could only compare him with a Life-Guardsman whom she had once seen in Hyde Park, and who had appeared
