and hair, except where the
upper brow retained its original fairness--presenting a startling
contrast, like a wreath of snow lying late in spring-time high up on the
side of a black fell. You would hardly say that they were devoid of
expression, any more than that a perfectly drilled soldier is incapable
of activity; but you got puzzled in making out what their natural
expression was: it was not sternness, far less ferocity--the face was
much too impassible for either; and yet its listlessness could never be
mistaken for languor. The thin short lips might be very pitiless when
compressed, very contemptuous and provocative when curling; but the
enormous mustache, sweeping over them like a wave, and ending in a clean
stiff upward curve, made even this a matter of mere conjecture. The
cold, steady, dark eyes seldom flashed or glittered; but, when their
pupils contracted, there came into them a sort of sullen, suppressed,
inward light, like that of jet or cannel coal. One curious thing about
them was, that they never seemed to care about following you, and yet
you felt you could not escape from them. The first hand-gripe, however,
settled the question with most people: few, after experiencing the
involuntary pressure, when he did not in the least mean to be cordial,
doubted that there were passions in Royston Keene--difficult perhaps to
rouse, but yet more difficult to appease or subdue.

His profession was evident. Indeed, it must be confessed that the
dragoon is not easily dissembled. I know a very meritorious
parish-priest, of fair repute too as a preacher, who has striven for
years, hard but unavailingly, to divest himself of the martial air he
brought with him out of the K.D.G. He strides down the village street
with a certain swagger and roll, as if the steel scabbard were still
trailing at his heel, acknowledging rustic bows with a slight quick
motion of the finger, like troopers' salutes; on the smooth shaven face
is shadowed forth the outline of a beard, nurtured and trimmed in old
days with more than horticultural science; in the pulpit and
reading-desk gown and surplice hang uneasily, like a disguise, on the
erect soldierly figure, and the effect of his ministrations is thereby
sadly marred; for apposite text, earnest exhortation, and grave rebuke
flow with a curious inconsistency from the lips of that well-meaning but
unmitigated Plunger.

Royston Keene was no exception to this rule, though he did not like to