‘I feared so,’ I exclaimed.
‘But it is broken,’ said he, ‘in such a way as to improve your looks. Did you ever see a portrait of the famous Lady Castlemaine?’ I said no. ‘Congratulate yourself,’ said he. ‘Your nose is now exactly the shape of the nose in the portrait of the celebrated Lady Castlemaine. The scar looks a little angry, but you can do without the bandage. Pray, my dear lady, don’t stare at the looking glass. When are you coming into the saloon? Very well; we shall meet at the luncheon table,’ said he, when I had answered him, and with an abrupt nod he left me.
By daylight the scar did not look so formidable as it had by lamplight. The eyebrow was a long smear of sulky red without hair, with a violet streak running through it. The flesh of the eyebrow appeared to have been torn off, and a new skin formed. I screwed my head on one side to catch a view of my profile, but my former face was not in my memory. My present face was the only face that I could recollect, and I was therefore unable to perceive that the injury which had changed the shape of my nose had in any way modified the expression of my countenance.
But I did not choose to exhibit my face with that sulky crimson scar streaming like a red trail across my right brow, and not knowing what to do I stepped to Mrs. Richards’ cabin, knocked, and found her busy with some accounts. She started on seeing me, but quickly recollected herself and exclaimed with a smile: ‘Now, indeed, you look as you should.’
‘I am ashamed,’ said I, ‘to go amongst the passengers with this unsightly forehead.’
‘It is not unsightly, my dear.’
‘How can I conceal it?’
She reflected, and then jumped up. ‘I believe I have the very thing you want,’ said she, and after hunting in a box she produced a short white veil. It was of gossamer, and it had a gloss of satin; she pinned it round my cap, contriving that it should fall a little lower than the eyes.
‘Will that do?’ she exclaimed.
‘It is the very thing,’ I cried with a child-like feeling of exultation; and then, as it was nearly eleven o’clock, I walked to the after steps and entered the saloon.