well-shaped head, the strong, waving hair planted low upon the broad brow, beneath which shone two expressive eyes, so thickly shadowed by dark lashes as to appear black. Probably few admired who passed the girl in the street, but she could not fail to arrest attention, and in a room she would probably keep it. The impression she first made was that of pride—a certain remoteness which held her apart. As this wore off, the keen interest she took in whatsoever she saw, and above all, in whatsoever she heard, rendered her face so expressive that to many it appeared beautiful. But this it was not.
Before leaving England on a six months' term, Anthony Shaw thought well to see his old solicitor in London, Joshua Twisden, of Gray's Inn, and introduce Elizabeth to him. He said—
"In case I die, it is well that you should personally know a man whom I regard as a friend—a man whom I have trusted for years, and to whom I should wish you to apply for advice or help in any emergency. I have appointed your uncle as your sole guardian and co-trustee with Twisden, till you are one and twenty, until which time all the income at your disposal will be five hundred a year. That is to enable you to feel free. The trustees will administer the estate, and pay all outgoing expenses. Your uncle will do all that—seeing to the farm, and so on. It is just the sort of thing he can do well. But in any important matter, Elizabeth, you had better consult Twisden."
"Why do you talk like this—as if you were going to die to-morrow?" said the girl, almost angrily. "It spoils all my pleasure!"
