Brother Tom promised to be a genius, but marriage has blighted the hope, I fear.' 'The marriage was a very absurd one.' 'Was it?
I feared so; but Tom seems satisfied.

I suppose they will stay at Madeira.' 'Until his wife is tired of her imaginary phthisis, and amuses herself with imagining some other ailment that requires them to go to Siberia.' 'Ah, that kind of person, is she ?' He smiled indulgently, and played for a moment with the lobe of his right ear.

His ears were small, and of the ideal contour; the hand, too, thus displayed, was a fine example of blended strength and elegance.
Rhoda came in, so quietly that she was able to observe the guest before he had detected her presence.

The movement of Miss Barfoot's eyes first informed him that another person was in the room.

In the quietest possible way the introduction was performed, and all seated themselves.
Dressed, like the hostess, in black, and without ornaments of any kind save a silver buckle at her waist, Rhoda seemed to have endeavoured to liken herself to the suggestion of her name by the excessive plainness with which she had arranged her hair; its tight smoothness was nothing like so becoming as the mode she usually adopted, and it made her look older.