Hubert passed into the room.
It was furnished in a very old-fashioned style--heavily, richly, and with ornaments seemingly procured rather as evidences of wealth than of taste; successive Mrs.Eldons had used it as a boudoir.

The present lady of that name sat in a great chair near the fire.

Though not yet fifty, she looked at least ten years older; her hair had streaks of white, and her thin delicate features were much lined and wasted.

It would not be enough to say that she had evidently once been beautiful, for in truth she was so still, with a spiritual beauty of a very rare type.

Just now her face was set in a sternness which did not seem an expression natural to it; the fine lips were much more akin to smiling sweetness, and the brows accepted with repugnance anything but the stamp of thoughtful charity.
After the first glance at Hubert she dropped her eyes.