The Bostonians, Vol. II (of II)

e or eleven. She didn't tell me to say she was glad to see you, because she doesn't know whether she is or not, and she wouldn't for the world expose herself to telling a fib. Sh

ntleman had not even needed to sit down to become interested: apparently he had taken up the volume from a table as soon as he came in, and, standing there, after a single glance round the apartment, h

see you," Mrs. Luna rejoined, "when I tell you that I h

d for me," said the young man.

Olive told me to tell you she hoped you will stay to dinner. And if

nquired, presenting himself w

bove the level of a crowd, on some judicial bench or political platform, or even on a bronze medal. His forehead was high and broad, and his thick black hair, perfectly straight and glossy, and without any division, rolled back from it in a leonine manner. These things, the eyes especially, with their smouldering fire, might have indicated that he was to be a great American statesman; or, on the other hand, they might simply have proved that he came from Carolina or Alabama. He came, in fact, from Mississippi, and he spoke very perceptibly with the accent of that country. It is not in my power to reproduce by any combination of characters this charming dialect; but the initiated reader will have no difficulty in evoking the sound, which is to be associated in the present instance with nothing vulgar or vain. This lean, pale, sallow, shabby, striking young man, with his superior head, his sedentary shoulders, his expression of

doing. She made him sit down; she assured him that her sister quite expected him, would feel as sorry as she could ever feel for anything-for she was a kind of fatalist, anyhow-if he didn't stay to dinner. It was an immense pity-she herself was going ou

r to? You speak as if it were a re

hes and wizards, mediums, and spir

n his brown eyes deepened. "Do you mean

hatever is, is wrong, and all that sort of thing. If y

pon a stilted heel. She was attractive and impertinent, especially the latter. He seemed to think it was a great pity, what she had told him; but he lost himself in this consideration, or, at any rate, said nothing for some time, while his eyes wandered over Mrs. Luna, and he probably wondered what body of doctrine she represented, little as she might partake of the nature of her

t have kn

d be all that you say. She was b

e solar system if she could get hold of it. She'll reform you, if you d

n in Europe?"

yes! Hav

been anywhere.

olish it. Didn't you know I had been to Europe?" Mrs. Luna went on, in the s

mself with saying that he must condone his Boeotian ignorance (he was fond of an elegant phrase); that he lived in a part of the country where they didn't think much about Europe, and that he had always

rk, why in the world didn't you c

on't go out much, e

s got some profession over here! Are you

le, and the curious feminine softness with wh

month before, come home with her little boy, the only thing she had in the world, and was paying a visit to her sister,

little boy don't," t

t even know what one had come back for. There were people who wanted one to spend the winter in Boston; but she couldn't stand that-she knew, at least, what she had not come back for. Perhaps she should take a house in Washington; d

r ears. She stood there looking, consciously and rather seriously, at Mr. Ransom; a smile of exceeding faintness played about her lips-it was just pe

shouldn't tell you that I am ver

bserved that Miss Chancellor's hand was at once cold and limp; she merely placed it in his, without exerting the smallest pressure. Mrs. Luna explained to her sister that her freedom of speech was caused by his being a relation-though, indeed, he didn't seem to know

oing to stay a little, so that you may judge us for yourself. I should like you to see Newton, too; he is a noble little nature, and I want some advice about him. You only stay to-morrow? Why, what's the use of that? Well, mind you come and see me in New York; I shall be sure to be part of the winter there. I shall send you a card; I won't let you off. Don't come out; my sister has the first claim.