The Parisians, Book 2.

ly into the room,-elderly, yet with a youthful expression of face, owing perhaps to a pair of very vivacious black eyes. She was dressed, after a somewhat slatter

was restrained into smooth glossy braids over the forehead, and at the crown of the small graceful head into the

f dignity and of self-possession which suits well with the ideal of chaste youthful matronage; and in the expression of the face there was a pensive thoughtfulness beyond her years. But as she now sat by the open window arranging flowers in a glass bowl, a book lying open on

en you see him in a holiday moment at his own fireside, the care is thrown aside; perhaps he mastered while abroad the difficulty that had troubled him; he is cheerful, pleasant, sunny. This appears to be very much the case with persons of genius. When in their own houses we usually find them very playful and childlike. Most persons of real genius, whatever they may seem out of doors, are very sweet-tempered at home, and sweet temper is sympathizing and genial in the intercourse of private life. Certa

hat it is always worth heeding as an index of character. It is the ear. Remark how delicately it is formed in her: none of that heaviness of lobe which is a sure sign of sluggish intellect and coarse perception. Hers is the artist's ear. Note next those hands: how beautifully shaped! small, but not doll-like hands,-ready and nimble, firm and nervous hands, th

as to what is befitting between a burly bellicose creature like Henry II. and a delicate young lady like Isaura Cicogna; and one would not wish to see those dainty wrists of hers seamed and scarred by a falcon's claws. But a girl may not be less exquisitely feminine for slight heed of artificial prettiness. Isaura had no need of pale bloodless hands to s

e other table of dull walnut-wood, standing clothless before a sofa to match the chairs; the eternal ormolu clock flanked by the two eternal ormolu candelabra on the dreary mantelpiece. Some of this garniture had been removed, others softened into cheeriness and comfort. The room somehow or other-thanks partly to a very moderate expenditure in pretty twills with pretty borders, gracefully simple table-covers, with one or two additional small tables and easy-chairs, two simple vases filled with flowers; thanks still more to a nameless skill in re

cold and stiff; and another kind of neatness disappears from our sight in a satisfied sense of com

e well-known line of Catullus when on recrossing his threshold he inv

imple on the c

ed many-sided, and therefore not very easy to comprehend. She gives us one side of her character in her correspondence w

s with the dimpled smile we have noticed. "But I think, Madre, that we should do wel

rnation. "Stay at home!-why stay at home? Euchre is very well when the

aldo n

mai in

s, and so well lit up! I adore light. And the ladies so beautifully dressed: one sees the fashions

asked to sing, as I was asked before; and you know Dr. C. forbids me to do so except to a very small audience; and it is so ungracious always to say 'No;' and besides, did you not

old black Lyons silk; but have I not bought since then my beautiful Greek j

ake an effect in a little dinner at the Savarins or Mrs. Morley's;

interrupted

singo

Lady wear such a jacket, and did not every one

ra was unaware. The Signora, on returning home from M. Louvier's, had certainly lamented much over the mesquin appearance of her old-fashioned Italian habiliments compared with the brilliant toilette of the gay Parisiennes; and Isaura-quite woman enough to sympathize with woman in such womanly vanities-proposed the next day to go with the Signora to one of the principal couturie

subject from her mind. But the Signora was much too cunning to submit her passion for the Greek jacket to the discouraging comments of Madame Savarin. Monopolizing the coupe, she became absolute mistress of the situation. She went to no fashionable couturiere's. She

ack in a sort of superstitious terror,

Louvier's salon. What might be admired as coquetry of dress in a young beauty of rank so great that even a vulgarity in

upon wearing a certain dress, "You are not young and handsome enough for that?" Is

natural. When the nightingale sings no more, she is only an ugly brown bird;"

, kissed and petted her, and ended by saying, "Of course we will go;" and, "but let me choo

not amuse myself like thee with books. I am in a foreign land. I have a poor head, but I have

k jacket is splendid; I shall be so pleased to see you wear it: poor Madre! so pleas