Page:Bianca, or, The Young Spanish Maiden (Toru Dutt).djvu/33

Rh family; his wife was an universal favorite; she pleased every body with her quiet gentle manners, and her sweet pretty face. His manner was of the most pleasing kind; a little too familiar with ladies, some thought him, but generally ho was liked; he so affable, so gentlemanly! my lady said,—and my lady’s passport was enough to open to him all the respectable houses of the County, except that of Mr. Garcia. People wondered a little at this; but the Garcias lived so quietly; never mixed with any body since Miss Inez Garcia’s death. So after a little tittle-tattle now and anon, the subject was dropped by general consent everywhere, and Mr. Owen had free "entrée" to every house. "He is so clever!" my lady would say, "knew everything! And seems to have travelled through all the world." He was attentive to Margaret, and indeed to every young lady; he was fatherly with them; the very old ladies ho treated with a deference, that charmed them all. He would whisper the most trival things in a manner so confidential, to a young lady, that lookers-on would think he was very intimate with her, and that they were plotting treason against some body else. Did Miss So-and-so want some monograms for her album; ho moved heaven and earth to procure them, and then he would hand them to her in the most bewitching manner, and only laugh gaily at her guesses as to where he could get so many monograms; he must have a great many correspondents, and dukes, lords and knights too, as the lions rampant, the eagles soaring, the stags couchant, and the mottoes showed! He used to send for them from Rodrigues and Sons, Piccadilly, with a money order enclosed in his letter! And then he was so fond of and kind with the little girls; he was quite a favorite with children. Oh he was a charming man!

When Lordd Moore entered the sick room with Dr. Chambers, Bianca was speaking hurriedly; she did not hear the sound of the opening door, and went on incoherently. "Pussy kiss this cross," holding out the cross which hung from her neck by a blue ribbon, "Cela te portera bonheur." "Poor Pussy, your little Kitty has been given away; you are sorry, so am I Puss; that’s right Pussy, kiss the cross; He says that a sparrow does