In that hand it almost seemed as if the iron force of the character betrayed itself.

But, as we have said, this slight defect, which few, if seen, would hypercritically notice, could not, of course, be perceptible as she moved slowly up the room; and Vernon's eye, glancing over the noble figure, rested upon the face.

Was it handsome?
Was it repelling?
Strange that in feature it had pretensions to the highest order of beauty, and yet even that experienced connoisseur in female charms was almost as puzzled what sentence to pronounce.

The hair, as was the fashion of the day, clustered in profuse curls over the forehead, but could not conceal a slight line or wrinkle between the brows; and this line, rare in women at any age, rare even in men at hers, gave an expression at once of thought and sternness to the whole face.

The eyebrows themselves were straight, and not strongly marked, a shade or two perhaps too light,--a fault still more apparent in the lashes; the eyes were large, full, and though bright, astonishingly calm and deep,--at least in ordinary moments; yet withal they wanted the charm of that steadfast and open look which goes at once to the heart and invites its trust,--their expression was rather vague and abstracted.