Page:Paul Clifford Vol 2.djvu/156

148 road brought into view a party of pleasure, some on foot, some on horseback, others in the little vehicles which even at that day haunted watering-places, and called themselves "Flies" or "Swallows."

But among the gay procession Clifford had only eyes for one! Walking with that elastic step which so rarely survives the first epoch of youth, by the side of the heavy chair in which her father was drawn, the fair beauty of Lucy Brandon threw, at least in the eyes of her lover, a magic and a lustre over the whole group. He stood for a moment, stilling the heart that leapt at her bright looks and the gladness of her innocent laugh; and then recovering himself, he walked slowly and with a certain consciousness of the effect of his own singularly-handsome person, towards the party. The good Squire received him with his usual kindness, and informed him, according to that lucidus ordo, which he so especially favoured, of the whole particulars of their excursion. There was something worthy of an artist's