Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 151: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

134 THE COURT OF LONDON Lord Florimel — for that was his name — had only a few months previously succeeded to the family title and estates in consequence of the sudden death of an elder brother; and although he was still dressed in mourning, his attire was of the most elegant description. But he needed no adventi- tious aid to enhance the natural beauty of his person. For beautiful he indeed was, — not handsome, but with that cast of countenance for which Grecian women are so justly celebrated. He was scarcely two and twenty years of age; and a razor had never touched his cheeks, which had all the damask and peachlike loveliness peculiar to the softer sex. His complexion was singularly fair, clear, and stainless; his nose was small and perfectly straight, his lips were red and full, and his teeth brilliantly white and faultlessly even. His neck was long and gracefully turned, his ears remarkably small and delicate. He wore his rich chestnut hair flowing | in a wavy mass over his shoulders; and as it was parted with ereat precision above the high and open forehead, its ar- rangement completed the feminine appearance of the youth- ful noble’s countenance. His eyes were large, dark, and beaming with sensual passions, the lascivious fires of which were, however, subdued somewhat by the long and slightly curling fringes of the deepest jet, which served as a veil to temper the ardent expression of those splendid orbs. In stature Lord Florimel was very short for a man, though he was above the middle height of woman. His form was slight, but his symmetry was complete; and nothing could exceed the delicate whiteness of his hands and the diminu- tive modelling of his feet. His voice corresponded with this feminine style of beauty: it was clear and melodious as a flute, sounding deliciously as that of a lovely woman to the ear. His conversation was, moreover, particularly choice and select; though a voluptuary, he was not a rake, and he never indulged in profane jests, oaths, and impreca- tions. He was addicted to the pleasures of love, but he abjured those of wine; and, disliking the society of men, he passed nearly all his time amongst females. Fickle, in- constant, and easily excited by a new and pretty face, he had all the caprices of a wanton woman. But his character did not lack generous sentiments nor elevated feelings; he could be charitable in the extreme, when the humour seized upon him, and though he never lent money to a fashionable COMMIeEooolKS (E(0) Aals