CHAPTER II.
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
The sisters had not seen their young landlord since he was a lad of ten years of age, at which epoch he had been sent to Europe to receive his education. He had but recently been recalled home by his widowed mother, for the purpose of entering upon his estate and celebrating his majority in his patrimonial mansion by giving a dinner and ball in the house to all his kindred and friends, and a feast and dance in the barn to all his tenants and laborers.
It was said that his lady mother and his two young lady sisters, haughty and repellent women that they were, had objected to entertaining his dependents, but the young gentleman was resolved that they should enjoy themselves. And he had his way.
Nora had no recollection whatever of Herman Brudenell, who had been taken to Europe while she was still a baby; so now, her curiosity being stimulated, she plied Hannah with a score of tiresome questions about him.
"Is he tall, Hannah, dear? Is he very handsome?"
"How can I tell? I have not seen him since he was ten years old."
"But what is his complexion—is he fair or dark? and what is the color of his hair and eyes? Surely, you can tell that at least."
"Yes; his complexion, as well as I can recollect it, was freckled, and his hair sandy, and his eyes green."