At forty-seven she preserved much natural grace of bearing, a good complexion, pleasantly mobile features.

Her dress was in excellent taste, tending to elaboration, such as becomes a lady who makes some figure in the world of ease.

Little wrinkles at the outer corners of her eyes assisted her look of placid thought fulness; when she spoke, these were wont to disappear, and the expression of her face became an animated intelligence, an eager curiosity, or a vivacious good-humour, Her lips gave a hint of sarcasm, but this was reserved for special occasions; as a rule her habit of speech was suave, much observant of amenities.

One might have imagined that she had enjoyed a calm life, but this was far from being the case.

The daughter of a country solicitor, she married early--for love, and the issue was disastrous.
Above her right temple, just at the roots of the hair, a scar was discoverable; it was the memento of an occasion on which her husband aimed a blow at her with a mantelpiece ornament, and came within an ace of murder.