FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   294   295   296   297   298   299   300   301   302   303   304   305   306   307   308   309   310   311   312   313   314   315   316   317   318  
319   320   321   322   323   324   325   326   327   328   329   330   331   332   333   334   335   336   337   338   339   340   341   342   343   >>   >|  
averley, it may easily be believed, looked upon these young ladies with very different eyes. During the period of the siege, he paid them almost daily visits, although he observed with regret that his suit made as little progress in the affections of the former as the arms of the Chevalier in subduing the fortress. She maintained with rigour the rule she had laid down of treating him with indifference, without either affecting to avoid him, or to shun intercourse with him. Every word, every look, was strictly regulated to accord with her system, and neither the dejection of Waverley, nor the anger which Fergus scarcely suppressed, could extend Flora's attention to Edward beyond that which the most ordinary politeness demanded. On the other hand, Rose Bradwardine gradually rose in Waverley's opinion. He had several opportunities of remarking, that, as her extreme timidity wore off, her manners received a higher character; that the agitating circumstances of the stormy time seemed to call forth a certain dignity of feeling and expression, which he had not formerly observed; and that she omitted no opportunity within her reach to extend her knowledge and refine her taste. Flora Mac-Ivor called Rose her pupil, and was attentive to assist her in her studies, and to fashion both her taste and understanding. It might have been remarked by a very close observer, that in the presence of Waverley she was much more desirous to exhibit her friend's excellences than her own. But I must request of the reader to suppose, that this kind and disinterested purpose was concealed by the most cautious delicacy, studiously shunning the most distant approach to affectation. So that it was as unlike the usual exhibition of one pretty woman affecting to PRONER another, as the friendship of David and Jonathan might be to the intimacy of two Bond-street loungers. The fact is, that, though the effect was felt, the cause could hardly be observed. Each of the ladies, like two excellent actresses, were perfect in their parts, and performed them to the delight of the audience; and such being the case, it was almost impossible to discover that the elder constantly ceded to her friend that which was most suitable to her talents. But to Waverley, Rose Bradwardine possessed an attraction which few men can resist, from the marked interest which she took in everything that effected him. She was too young and too inexperienced to estimate the full forc
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   294   295   296   297   298   299   300   301   302   303   304   305   306   307   308   309   310   311   312   313   314   315   316   317   318  
319   320   321   322   323   324   325   326   327   328   329   330   331   332   333   334   335   336   337   338   339   340   341   342   343   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Waverley

 

observed

 
extend
 

affecting

 

friend

 

Bradwardine

 
ladies
 
delicacy
 

shunning

 

studiously


distant
 
pretty
 
exhibition
 

unlike

 

cautious

 

PRONER

 
affectation
 

approach

 

remarked

 

observer


presence

 

studies

 

assist

 

fashion

 

understanding

 

desirous

 

suppose

 

disinterested

 

purpose

 

reader


request

 

excellences

 

exhibit

 

concealed

 

talents

 
suitable
 
possessed
 

attraction

 

constantly

 

impossible


discover
 
inexperienced
 

effected

 

estimate

 

resist

 

marked

 
interest
 

audience

 
attentive
 

effect