es which had escaped my
observation.

If I live a thousand years, I can never forget the intense emotion
with which I regarded this figure. It was that of a female, the most
exquisite I had ever beheld. The face was so far turned toward the stage
that, for some minutes, I could not obtain a view of it--but the form
was divine; no other word can sufficiently express its magnificent
proportion--and even the term "divine" seems ridiculously feeble as I
write it.

The magic of a lovely form in woman--the necromancy of female
gracefulness--was always a power which I had found it impossible to
resist, but here was grace personified, incarnate, the beau ideal of my
wildest and most enthusiastic visions. The figure, almost all of which
the construction of the box permitted to be seen, was somewhat above the
medium height, and nearly approached, without positively reaching, the
majestic. Its perfect fullness and tournure were delicious. The head of
which only the back was visible, rivalled in outline that of the Greek
Psyche, and was rather displayed than concealed by an elegant cap of
gaze aerienne, which put me in mind of the ventum textilem of Apuleius.
The right arm hung over the balustrade of the box, and thrilled every
nerve of my frame with its exquisite symmetry. Its upper portion was
draperied by one of the loose open sleeves now in fashion. This extended
but little below the elbow. Beneath it was worn an under one of some
frail material, close-fitting, and terminated by a cuff of rich lace,
which fell gracefully over the top of the hand, revealing only the
delicate fingers, upon one of which sparkled a diamond ring, which I
at once saw was of extraordinary value. The admirable roundness of the
wrist was well set off by a bracelet which encircled it, and which also
was ornamented and clasped by a magnificent aigrette of jewels-telling,
in words that could not be mistaken, at once of the wealth and
fastidious taste of the wearer.

I gazed at this queenly apparition for at least half an hour, as if I
had been suddenly converted to stone; and, during this period, I felt
the full force and truth of all that has been said or sung concerning
"love at first sight." My feelings were totally different from any which
I had hitherto experienced, in the presence of even the most celebrated
specimens of female loveliness. An unaccountable, and what I am
compelled to consider a magnetic, sympathy of soul for soul, seemed to
rivet