Page:The Ladies' Cabinet of Fashion, Music & Romance 1832.pdf/111

 

tory, my dear, I will this evening read you a sketch of her life. Her picture hangs in my private sitting room." I thanked her, and immediately called to mind a portrait covered with green cloth, which my aunt never allowed any one to raise. Years had intervened since she had looked on it herself. 66 " My dear girl," added my aunt, you have frequently wished to see that portrait : go now and satisfy your curiosity. Go and look on the image of one who, in beauty and goodness , was little inferior to angels, and prepare yourself to listen to her story." I required no second permission, and in a few moments I was standing before the mysterious picture-the curtain drawn back, and my eyes rivetted on the loveliest face I have ever beheld. The portrait represented a girl in the first flush and brightness of youth, and the countenance was radiant with life, hope and joy. It seemed to me to demand something more than the mere epithet of beautiful. A proud, impassioned spirit beamed from the dark eyes, and a smile, with more of tenderness than mirth in it, slightly curled the deep red lips.. I gazed on this glorious creature with delight, until the approach of night concealed her from my view, and my thoughts recurred to the promised narrative. On entering my aunt's room, I was surprised at her appearance. A bright fire burned on the hearth, and her work-stand was drawn before it, on which her head rested in an attitude of deep dejection. Several sheets of closely written paper lay on a chair beside her. On hearing the noise I made at my entrance, she raised her head and said, " Is it you already ? I did not think it so late." Her face was deathly pale, and her lips quivered with suppressed emotion. She pointed to a seat near the fire, which I took in silence, for I was too much surprised to speak, at such evident tokens of suffering from one I had deemed incapable of feeling violent passions of any description. My aunt belonged to that class yclept old maids, and I had adopted the idea, that because she had never married, she must be cold-hearted ; for I knew she had once been very handsome, and possessed a large fortune at her own disposal. I, of all creatures, had the least right to suppose this, for she was my friend, my benefactress, and from my early childhood had bestowed on me the care of an affectionate mother.

After a few moments spent in endeavouring to compose herself, she took up the papers, and carefully arranging them ,