, and an elderly French lady,
who was trying to persuade herself that she was fulfilling the duties
of a species of governess though the young ladies appeared to be beyond
the period of being "governessed." The elder of the two was a most
lively and cheerful creature, vivacious even to ungovernability; not
without plenty of brains, but so constituted that she could not go five
yards without cutting at least three "entrechats." She sprung, in the
same fashion, in her conversation, and in all that she did, restlessly
from one thing to another. I myself have seen her, within the space of
five minutes, work at needlework, read, draw, sing, and dance, or cry
about her poor cousin who was killed in battle, one moment, and while
the bitter tears were still in her eyes, burst into a splendid,
infectious burst of laughter when the French-woman spilt the contents
of her snuff-box over the pug, who at once began to sneeze frightfully,
and the old lady cried, "Ah, che fatalita! Ah carino! Poverino!"

"'For she always spoke to the dog in Italian because he was born in
Padua. Moreover, this young lady was the loveliest blonde ever seen,
and, in all her odd caprices, full of the utmost charm, goodness,
kindliness and attractiveness, so that, whether she would or no, she
exerted the most irresistible charm over every one.

"The younger sister was the greatest possible contrast to her (her name
was Adelgunda). I strive in vain to find words in which to express to
you the extraordinary impression which this girl produced upon me when
first I saw her. Picture to yourselves the most exquisite figure, and
the most marvellously beautiful face; but the cheeks and lips wear a
deathly pallor, and the figure moves gently, softly, slowly, with
measured steps; and then, when a low-toned word is heard from the
scarce opened lips and dies away in the spacious chamber, one feels a
sort of shudder of spectral awe; of course I soon got over this eery
feeling, and, when I managed to get her to emerge from her deep
self-absorbed condition and converse, I was obliged to admit that the
strangeness, the eeriness, was only external, and by no means came from
within. In the little she said there displayed themselves a delicate
womanliness, a clear head, and a kindly disposition. There was not a
trace of over-excitability, though her melancholy smile, and her
glance, heavy as with tears, seemed to speak of some morbid bodily
condition producing a hostile infl