She had been beautiful, and was stately and majestic in her
appearance. Endowed by nature with strong powers and violent
passions, experience had taught her to employ the one, and to
conceal, if not to moderate, the other. She was a severe and strict
observer of the external forms, at least, of devotion; her
hospitality was splendid, even to ostentation; her address and
manners were grave, dignified, and severely regulated by the rules
of etiquette.... And yet, with all these qualities to excite
respect, she was seldom mentioned in the terms of love or
affection. Interest,--the interest of her family, if not her
own--seemed too obviously the motive of her actions: and when this
is the case, the sharp-judging and malignant public are not easily
imposed upon by outward show.--_The Bride of Lammermoor._
Reasoning--like a woman, to whom external appearance is scarcely in
any circumstance a matter of unimportance, and like a beauty who
has confidence in her own charms.--_Kenilworth._
Her affection and sympathy dictated at once the kindest course.
Without attempting to control the torrent of grief in its full
current, she gently sat her down beside the mourner.... She waited
a more composed moment to offer her little stock of consolation in
deep silence and stillness.--_The Betrothed._
Her kindness and her worth to spy
You need but gaze on Ellen's eye;
Not Katrine in her mirror blue,
Gives back the shaggy banks more true,
Than every free-born glance confess'd
The guileless movements of her breast;
Whether joy danced in her dark eye,
Or woe or pity claim'd a sigh,
Or filial love was glowing there,
Or meek devotion pour'd a prayer.
Or hate of injury call'd forth
The indignant spirit of the North.
One only passion unreveal'd,
With maiden pride, the maid conceal'd,
Yet no less purely felt the flame--
O need I tell that passion's name?
_The Lady of the Lake, Canto 1._
She is fairer in feature than becometh a man of my order to speak
of; and she has withal a breathing of her father's lofty spirit.
The look and the word of such a lady will give a man double
strength in the hour of need.--_The Betrothed._
Her smile, her speech, with winning sway,
Wiled the old harper's mood away.
With such a look as hermits throw
When angels stoop to soothe their woe,
He gazed, till fond regret and pride
Thrill'd to a tear.
_The Lady of the Lake, Canto 2._
All her soul is in her eye,
Yet doubts she still to tender free
The wonted words of courtesy.
* * * * *
Go to her now--be bold of cheer,
While her soul floats 'twixt hope and fear:
It is the very change of tide,
When best the female heart is tried--
Pride, prejudice ...
Are in the current swept to sea.
_Rokeby, Canto 2._
She was highly accomplished; yet she had not learned to substitute
the gloss of politeness for the reality of feeling.--_Waverley._
A deep-thinking and impassioned woman, ready to make exertions
alike, and sacrifices, with all that vain devotion to a favorite
object of affection, which is often so basely rewarded.--_The
Fortunes of Nigel._