Page:Paul Clifford Vol 1.djvu/153

Rh vision. But while Paul was feeding his gaze on this young beauty, the keen glances of Long Ned had found an object no less fascinating, in a large gold watch, which the gentleman who accompanied the damsel, ever and anon brought to his eye, as if he were waxing a little weary of the length of the pieces or the lingering progression of time.

"What a beautiful face!" whispered Paul.

"Is the face gold then, as well as the back?" whispered Long Ned in return.

Our hero stared,—frowned, and, despite the gigantic stature of his comrade, told him very angrily, to find some other subject for jesting. Ned in his turn stared, but made no reply.

Meanwhile Paul, though the lady was rather too young to fall in love with, began wandering what relationship her companion bore to her. Though the gentleman altogether was handsome, yet his features, and the whole character of his face, were widely different from those on which Paul gazed with such delight. He was not, seemingly, above five-and-forty, but his forehead was knit into many a line and furrow; and in his