Page:Romance & Reality 3.pdf/9

Rh that peculiar insular accent which none but a native of England ever acquires. We rarely pay much attention to what neither concerns nor interests us; and Edward had forgotten that Don Juan had married an Englishwoman. She was a slight, girlish-looking creature, with fair hair nearly concealed by the veil which was drawn round her head like a hood, but which in its simplicity rather added to her very youthful face—there was something of the grace of childhood with which she bade a countryman welcome "under any circumstances," slightly glancing at the dilapidated room:—"Circumstances of which a native of your fortunate land cannot, and therefore will not, I hope, judge," said a low sweet voice, in good but foreign English. Lorraine turned to the speaker, and recognised his last night's companion. Their eyes met for a moment: in hers there was a singular mixture of timidity and decision, of appeal and yet dignity. She blushed deeply, but momentarily, and her features instantly settled into an expression, calm, almost cold; as if any betrayal of emotion were utterly at variance with long habits of self-control. Edward had seen beauty often, and seen it