done by the same
hand as the others, it was evidently some years before; for there was far
more careful minuteness of detail, and less of that freshness of
colouring and freedom of handling that delighted and surprised me in
them. Nevertheless, I surveyed it with considerable interest. There was
a certain individuality in the features and expression that stamped it,
at once, a successful likeness. The bright blue eyes regarded the
spectator with a kind of lurking drollery--you almost expected to see
them wink; the lips--a little too voluptuously full--seemed ready to
break into a smile; the warmly-tinted cheeks were embellished with a
luxuriant growth of reddish whiskers; while the bright chestnut hair,
clustering in abundant, wavy curls, trespassed too much upon the
forehead, and seemed to intimate that the owner thereof was prouder of
his beauty than his intellect--as, perhaps, he had reason to be; and yet
he looked no fool.

I had not had the portrait in my hands two minutes before the fair artist
returned.

'Only some one come about the pictures,' said she, in apology for her
abrupt departure: 'I told him to wait.'

'I fear it will be considered an act of impertinence,' said 'to presume
to look at a picture that the artist has turned to the wall; but may I
ask--'

'It is an act of very great impertinence, sir; and therefore I beg you
will ask nothing about it, for your curiosity will not be gratified,'
replied she, attempting to cover the tartness of her rebuke with a smile;
but I could see, by her flushed cheek and kindling eye, that she was
seriously annoyed.

'I was only going to ask if you had painted it yourself,' said I, sulkily
resigning the picture into her hands; for without a grain of ceremony she
took it from me; and quickly restoring it to the dark corner, with its
face to the wall, placed the other against it as before, and then turned
to me and laughed.

But I was in no humour for jesting. I carelessly turned to the window,
and stood looking out upon the desolate garden, leaving her to talk to
Rose for a minute or two; and then, telling my sister it was time to go,
shook hands with the little gentleman, coolly bowed to the lady, and
moved towards the door. But, having bid adieu to Rose, Mrs. Graham
presented her hand to me, saying, with a soft voice, and by no means a
disagreeable smile,--'Let not the sun go down upon your wrath, Mr.
Markham. I'm sorry I offended you by my abruptness.'