His eyes are naturally rather light in colour, but agitation or anger gives them a darker and more fiery glance; he has a custom also of drawing in his lips when much moved, which implies a combat between native ardour of temper and the habitual power of self-command.

This was the first time we had been alone since his return from Scotland, and, as he betrayed these tokens of agitation, I had little doubt that he was about to enter upon the subject I most dreaded.
'To my unutterable relief, I found I was mistaken, and that, whatever he knew of Mr.Mervyn's suspicions or discoveries, he did not intend to converse with me on the topic.

Coward as I was, I was inexpressibly relieved, though, if he had really investigated the reports which may have come to his ear, the reality could have been nothing to what his suspicions might have conceived.

But, though my spirits rose high at my unexpected escape, I had not courage myself to provoke the discussion, and remained silent to receive his commands.
'"Julia," he said, "my agent writes me from Scotland that he has been able to hire a house for me, decently furnished, and with the necessary accommodation for my family; it is within three miles of that I had designed to purchase." Then he made a pause, and seemed to expect an answer.
'"Whatever place of residence suits you, sir, must be perfectly agreeable to me." '"Umph! I do not propose, however, Julia, that you shall reside quite alone in this house during the winter." '"Mr.and Mrs.Mervyn," thought I to myself.--"Whatever company is agreeable to you, sir," I answered aloud.
'"O, there is a little too much of this universal spirit of submission, an excellent disposition in action, but your constantly repeating the jargon of it puts me in mind of the eternal salaams of our black dependents in the East.

In short, Julia, I know you have a relish for society, and I intend to invite a young person, the daughter of a deceased friend, to spend a few months with us." '"Not a governess, for the love of Heaven, papa!" exclaimed poor I, my fears at that moment totally getting the better of my prudence.
'"No, not a governess, Miss Mannering," replied the Colonel, somewhat sternly, "but a young lady from whose excellent example, bred as she has been in the school of adversity, I trust you may learn the art to govern yourself." 'To answer this was trenching upon too dangerous ground, so there was a pause.
'"Is the young lady a Scotchwoman, papa ?" '"Yes"-- drily enough.
'"Has she much of the accent, sir ?" '"Much of the devil!" answered my father hastily; "do you think I care about a's and aa's, and i's and ee's,?
I tell you, Julia, I am serious in the matter.