|Lady Barfleur had been a very fine woman in her day, and though her
beauty was now somewhat passed, she was still a stately dame, and
accorded extremely well with the old mansion of which she was mistress.
The drawing-room, to which she conducted her visitors, was a very
splendid apartment, and merits a brief description.
The ceiling was adorned with pendants, and the upper part of the walls
was covered with a profusion of plaster ornaments, among which were
the arms of Elizabeth and James the First. The dark oak wainscoting was
richly carved in arches and pilasters, producing a very fine effect.
The principal feature of the room, however, was the magnificent
fireplace. Rising to a great height, it was adorned with pillars and
sculptured figures that supported the architrave, above which were
emblazoned the arms of the Barfleurs.
The furniture was consistent with the antique character of the
room--none of it being of a later date than the early part of the
seventeenth century.
As Lady Barfleur moved slowly and somewhat stiffly about this noble
apartment, or seated herself in a high-backed chair, carved in oak,
black as ebony, she looked as if she belonged to the same date as the
furniture; and her hair, having become prematurely grey, aided the
illusion.
Not so Emmeline. She was a very charming representative of the young
lady of our own period.
An exceedingly pretty brunette, she had splendid black eyes, shaded by
long silken lashes, and arched over by finely-pencilled brows, lovely
features, ripe red lips, and teeth like pearls--and, as she was very
lively, the latter were often displayed.
She was not tall, but her figure was symmetry itself, and Cinderella
might have envied her tiny feet. She was about the same age as Mildred,
and they were great friends.
At first, the discourse turned chiefly upon the robbery, which Lady
Barfleur begged might be fully described to her; but it was soon changed
to other topics.
For awhile, Captain Danvers seemed undecided whether to devote himself
to the beautiful and wealthy widow or her lovely step-daughter; but
at length he began to pay exclusive attention to the former, probably
because she gave him most encouragement. Indeed, Mrs. Calverley seemed
more favourably inclined towards him than to any other suitor since her
husband's death.
Captain Danvers, it appeared, had only arrived at Brackley a few days
previously, and this accounted for his not having met the ladies of
Ouselcroft before.
Whether Mildred was altogether pleased by having him carried off in
this manner, we will not say. Not the slightest sign of annoyance was
manifest. She laughed and chatted gaily with Emmeline; and when that
young lady proposed that they should go and look at the gallery, she
readily assented, and left Mrs. Calverley in quiet possession of the
handsome captain.