Her cheeks were slightly flushed with a carnation hue;—her large grey eyes shone brilliantly, and appeared to give a halo of light to her whole countenance;—her moist red lips, parted with a smile of happiness and satisfaction, revealed the teeth so perfectly regular and of such pearly whiteness;—and her neck arched proudly and with swan-like grace.
One arm hung negligently, but slightly rounded, by her side: the other, thrown across her form just above the waist, kept the folds of the wrapper together;—and from beneath the skirt of that elegant, tasteful garment, of almost gauzy lightness and transparency, peeped forth the beautifully-modelled ankles in their flesh-coloured silk stockings, and the charming feet in their embroidered slippers of pale blue satin.
Though, as we have before stated, she was not above the middle height, yet there was something truly regal and commanding in her deportment—something more than graceful and less than imperious in her carriage, and, altogether, she appeared a being to whom it would not be idolatrous to kneel.
On the contrary,—prejudiced and naturally inveterate as he was against her, Mr. Hatfield could well comprehend, even at the first glance which he threw upon her, how a young man of enthusiastic disposition and keen sensibility might love that enchanting creature with a devotion amounting to a worship.
The apartment was large and beautifully furnished,—the uncarpetted floor of oak was polished almost to mirror-like brightness,—vast looking-glasses, set in splendid frames, were suspended to the walls,—a massive or-molu time-piece and handsome porcelain vases filled with flowers freshly gathered that morning, stood on the mantel,—and through the casements, which reached from the ceiling to the floor, and which were only partially shaded by muslin curtains, flowed the gorgeous lustre of the cloudless sun, so that the room seemed filled with a transparent and impalpable haze of gold-dust.
Thus the whole aspect of that large and lofty apartment was magnificent and rich, bright and joyous;—and, had the minds of the father and son at the instant been in a different mood, they would have felt thrilled with admiration and delight at the presence of the magnificent creature who now entered an atmosphere so congenially glorious and sunny.
It seemed as if the beauteous being herself were surrounded with a golden halo,—as if the perfume of the freshly gathered flowers were the delicious fragrance of her breath,—as if the delicate feet and ankles bore her glancingly along a polished surface which she scarcely appeared to touch; while the immense mirrors multiplied the voluptuous form, as though other and kindred houris were moving about in attendance on their queen.
The effulgence of the warm sun played on her shining hair, as if a glory sate on that exquisitely shaped head,—gave additional brightness to the eyes that flashed with the natural fire of joy,—and rendered the fine and faultless countenance radiant and dazzling in its surpassing beauty.
Were that a room in a palatial dwelling,—were it an empress making her appearance,—and were the two men courtiers awaiting her presence, the effect could not have been more grand—more striking,—and the courtiers would have fallen on their knees in mute adoration of a being that seemed almost divine!
But, alas! circumstances marred all those fine effects which the transcendant charms of a lovely woman might have produced;—for the soul of this woman corresponded not with her captivating exterior,—it was dark and hideous—inspiring horrible thoughts, and suggesting ideas of a nature so sinister, sombre, and gloomy, as to throw into the shade all the glory of the outward loveliness.