He was as fine a lad at sixteen years old as ever I seed; but now he is not like the same thing." So then it was evidently Percy Godolphin whom Constance had seen by the brook--the owner of a home without coffers, and estates without a rent-roll--the Percy Godolphin, of whom, before he had attained the age when others have left the college, or even the school, every one had learned to speak--some favourably, all with eagerness.

Constance felt a vague interest respecting him spring up in her mind.

She checked it, for it was a sin in her eye to think with interest on a man neither rich nor powerful; and as she quitted the ruins with Lady Erpingham, she communicated to the latter her adventure.

She was, however, disingenuous; for though Godolphin's countenance was exactly of that cast which Constance most admired, she described him just as the old woman had done; and Lady Erpingham figured to herself, from the description, a little yellow man, with white hair and a turned-up nose.
O Truth! what a hard path is thine! Does any keep it for three inches together in the commonest trifle ?--and yet two sides of my library are filled with histories! (1) Campbell..