Having rather a round and full face, she wore her hair (coloured from youthful nature) in a fringe across her forehead, balanced on either side by clusters of charming little curls.

Her mourning for Robert was worthy of its Parisian origin; it showed to perfect advantage the bloom of her complexion and the whiteness of her neck--also worthy of their Parisian origin.

She looked like a portrait of the period of Charles the Second, endowed with life.
"And how do you do, Mr.Mool?
Have you been looking at my ferns ?" The ferns were grouped at the entrance, leading from the library to the conservatory.

They had certainly not escaped the notice of the lawyer, who possessed a hot-house of his own, and who was an enthusiast in botany.

It now occurred to him--if he innocently provoked embarrassing results--that ferns might be turned to useful and harmless account as a means of introducing a change of subject.