tance and stand looking after him, with a leer on its face and a
malicious hugging of itself in a long black cloak, that proclaimed her
to be the same ominous being who had before so grievously startled them.
XVI.
THE SWORD OF DAMOCLES.
"And my imaginations are as foul
As Vulcan's smithy."
--HAMLET.
"Why, all the souls that were, were forfeit once;
And He that might the vantage best have took
Found out the remedy."
--MEASURE FOR MEASURE.
Mrs. Sylvester reclining on the palest of blue couches, in the slanting
sunlight of an April afternoon, is a study for a painter. Not that such
inspiring loveliness breathed from her person, conspicuous as it was for
its rich and indolent grace, but because in every attitude of her large
and well formed limbs, in every raise of the thick white lids from eyes
whose natural brightness was obscured by the mist of aimless fancies,
she presented such an embodiment of luxurious ease, one might almost
imagine they were gazing upon the favorite Sultana of some eastern
court, or, to be for once poetical as the subject demands, a full blown
Egyptian lotos floating in hushed enjoyment on the placid waters of its
native stream. Indeed for all the blonde character of her beauty, there
was certainly something oriental about the physique of this favored
child of fortune. Had the tint of her skin been richened to a magnolia
bloom instead of reminding you of that description accorded to the
complexion of one of Napoleon's sisters, that it looked like white satin
seen through pink glass, she would have passed in any Eastern market,
for a rare specimen of Circassian beauty.
But Mr. Sylvester coming home fatigued and harassed, cared little for
Circassian beauties or Oriental odalisques. It was a welcome that he
desired, and such refreshment as a quick eye and ready hand can bestow
when guided by a tender and loving heart; or so thought the watchful
Paula as she glided from her room at the sound of his step in the hall,
and met him coming weary and disheartened from the side of Ona's couch.
The sight of her revived him at once.
"Well, little one, what have you been doing to-day?"
Instantly a shade fell over her countenance. "I hardly know how to tell
you. It has been a day of great experiences to me. I am literally shaken
with them. I have been wanting to talk to Ona about what I have seen and
heard, but thought I had best wait till you came home, f
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