The Argosy — page 279: what you’re looking at

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

258 | Mrs. Henry Wood. this life as much as in its broad outlines. In all matters ecclesiastical she was an authority. Va THE years went on until at the age of thirteen a delicacy began to show itself. Something was swrong with the spine. No doubt in these more advanced days all might have been put right: but sixty years ago the science of medicine—which, even as it is, has made less progress than any other science—was in a very elementary condition. All was done that could be done: but it seemed certain that hence- forth a life of more or less suffering and weakness was to be her lot. And now the quiet, thoughtful girl had to become still quieter and more thoughtful. ‘The doctors did their utmost, but it was little. Her days had to be passed on a reclining board or couch, from which she seldom moved. Reading and study, always her great pleasure and passion, now became her chief resource. Surrounded by her books she was always happy. Her mind grew and expanded rapidly, but this was probably at the expense of the frail body. As its delicacy increased, so did the singular beauty of her face. This beauty was something quite out of the common order. It possessed a quality that cannot be described, because it was, so to say, intangible. It was something quite apart from the mere perfection of feature, which she also possessed. Perhaps the word ethereal will best give the reader an idea of its character. The face was a pure oval, of the most refined description: that perfection of form that is so rarely seen. A small, straight, very delicate and refined nose; teeth of dazzling whiteness, entire to the day of her death ; a perfect mouth, revealing at once the sensitive- ness and tender sympathy of her nature and the steadfastness of her disposition. Her eyes were unusually large, dark and flashing, with a penetrating gaze that seemed to read your inmost thoughts. One felt that everything before her had to be outspoken: for if you uttered only half your thoughts, she would certainly divine the rest. Nothing escaped her powers of observation. She seemed to learn things by intuition, so that she often surprised one by uttering what seemed like a revelation or the disclosures of an Oracle. She her- self was aware of this, and was frequently amused by the result and the astonishment created. At the same time hers were the softest and sweetest eyes imaginable, and one marvelled over and over again, how this singular combination of intellect, penetration, and sweetness could exist—as exist it undoubtedly did. With it all, her prevailing expression was a look of absolute re- pose. JI remember Lady Lush once saying to me—one of the best women that ever lived: whose life was devoted to good works—that she would give anything to possess my mother’s calm expression. But Lady Lush’s life was passed in activity, and in the bustle of the ECONnNICLOOKS.E@)