Her mind was so superior to his own, that she felt almost as if older in years, and in their talk her rosy lips preached to him in grave advice.
On the landing, by Marmaduke's chamber, there was a large oriel casement jutting from the wall.

It was only glazed at the upper part, and that most imperfectly, the lower part being closed at night or in inclement weather with rude shutters.

The recess formed by this comfortless casement answered, therefore, the purpose of a balcony; it commanded a full view of the vicinity without, and gave to those who might be passing by the power also of indulging their own curiosity by a view of the interior.
Whenever he lost sight of Sibyll, and had grown weary of the peacock, this spot was Marmaduke's favourite haunt.

It diverted him, poor youth, to look out of the window upon the livelier world beyond.

The place, it is true, was ordinarily deserted, but still the spires and turrets of London were always discernible,--and they were something.
Accordingly, in this embrasure stood Marmaduke, when one morning, Sibyll, coming from her father's room, joined him.
"And what, Master Nevile," said Sibyll, with a malicious yet charming smile, "what claimed thy meditations?
Some misgiving as to the trimming of thy tunic, or the length of thy shoon ?" "Nay," returned Marmaduke, gravely, "such thoughts, though not without their importance in the mind of a gentleman, who would not that his ignorance of court delicacies should commit him to the japes of his equals, were not at that moment uppermost.