together.

It was clear, both to Patience and Clarissa, that he was much struck
with the new cousin; but then it was quite out of the question
that any man should not be struck with her. Her beauty was of that
kind,--like the beauty of a picture,--which must strike even if
it fails to charm. And Mary had a way of exciting attention with
strangers, even by her silence. It was hardly intentional, and there
certainly was no coquetry in it; but it was the case that she carried
herself after a fashion which made it impossible for any stranger to
regard her place in the room as being merely a chair with a young
lady in it. She would speak hardly a word; but her very lack of
speech was eloquent. At the present time she was of course in deep
mourning, and the contrast between the brilliance of her complexion
and the dark dress which covered her throat;--between the black
scarf and the profusion of bright hair which fell upon it, was so
remarkable as of itself to excite attention. Clarissa, watching
everything, though, with feminine instinct, seeming to watch nothing,
could see that he was amazed. But then she had known that he would be
amazed. And of what matter would be his amazement, if he were true?
If, indeed, he were not true,--then, then,--then nothing mattered!
Such was the light in which Clary viewed the circumstances around her
at the present moment.

The evening did not pass very pleasantly. Ralph was introduced to the
cousin, and asked some questions about the West Indies. Then there
was tea. Ralph was dressed, with a black coat and white cravat, and
Clary could not keep herself from thinking how very much nicer he was
with a pipe in his mouth, and his neck bare, drinking soda-water and
sherry out on the lawn. Ah,--in spite of all that had then happened,
that was the sweetest moment in her existence, when he jumped up from
the ground and told her that he might do a great deal better than
marry the West Indian cousin. She thought now of his very words, and
suggested to herself that perhaps he would never say them again.
Nay;--might it not be possible that he would say the very reverse,
that he would declare his wish to marry the West Indian cousin. Clary
could not conceive but that he might have her should he so wish.
Young ladies, when they are in love, are prone to regard their lovers
as being prizes so valuable as to be coveted by all female comers.

Before Ralph had taken his leave Sir Thomas took Mary apart t