scription, and went on.

"Tall, as a young tree, with eyes like the sky. I would not say she was
perfect, but her imperfections were beautiful to me. What is it makes
you love--ah! sir, that is very hidden and mysterious. She had never
lost the trick of closing her lips tightly when she remembered her uneven
tooth. You may say that was vanity, but in a young girl--and which of
us is not vain, eh? 'Old men and maidens, young men and children!'

"As I said, she came back to London to her little room, and in the
evenings was always ready with our tea. You mustn't suppose she was
housewifely; there is something in me that never admired
housewifeliness--a fine quality, no doubt, still--" He sighed.

"No," he resumed, "Eilie was not like that, for she was never quite the
same two days together. I told you her eyes were like the sky--that was
true of all of her. In one thing, however, at that time, she always
seemed the same--in love for her father. For me! I don't know what I
should have expected; but my presence seemed to have the effect of making
her dumb; I would catch her looking at me with a frown, and then, as if
to make up to her own nature--and a more loving nature never came into
this world, that I shall maintain to my dying day--she would go to her
father and kiss him. When I talked with him she pretended not to notice,
but I could see her face grow cold and stubborn. I am not quick; and it
was a long time before I understood that she was jealous, she wanted him
all to herself. I've often wondered how she could be his daughter, for
he was the very soul of justice and a slow man too--and she was as quick
as a bird. For a long time after I saw her dislike of me, I refused to
believe it--if one does not want to believe a thing there are always
reasons why it should not seem true, at least so it is with me, and I
suppose with all selfish men.

"I spent evening after evening there, when, if I had not thought only of
myself, I should have kept away. But one day I could no longer be blind.

"It was a Sunday in February. I always had an invitation on Sundays to
dine with them in the middle of the day. There was no one in the
sitting-room; but the door of Eilie's bedroom was open. I heard her
voice: 'That man, always that man!' It was enough for me, I went down
again without coming in, and walked about all day.

"For three weeks I kept away. To the school of course I came as usual,
but not upstairs.