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Elizabeth's Pretenders
15

unto her as a god. This colonel had curious manners, unlike any she had encountered in her short journey through the world. He took little notice of her, and the ease and assurance with which he moved and spoke, seemed to imply perfect indifference as to the effect he might produce. At the same time, his courtesy was high-bred, almost old-fashioned in punctiliousness; apparently inherent, as though he would equally have held open the door for the housemaid, or stooped to pick up her broom; and this had more attraction for Elizabeth than had she believed them to be special acts of courtesy to herself. He was as much a chivalrous type as a splendid model. His very standing aloof attracted her, in an impersonal and curious way. Several other young men came and went during that week at Farley Manor, but none other intangled himself in her recollection. Her aunt was a capital hostess, inasmuch as she was always devising schemes of entertainment, and never out of temper. Anthony did not quite like her manners occasionally with some of her guests; her skittishness appeared to him ill suited to a matron; but, then, he was old-fashioned, perhaps, and had not moved with the age. She was so kind to Elizabeth—so anxious that her niece should appear to the best advantage; and under her roof and tutelage so much of the girl's roughness was being smoothed away. His sister-in-law seldom read anything but the Morning Post or the World. She had no love of art, and, except that she liked animals, and rode well, no two women could have more dissimilar tastes than she and Elizabeth. But Mrs. William, in her light frothy way, could be very amusing, and the girl had a strong