The restlessness, the nervous energy of youth, had been replaced by the calm confidence of middle age--of tested strength, of ripe experience.
On his side, John Crewys felt very kindly towards the venerable ladies, who represented to him all the womankind of his own race.
Both sisters possessed the family characteristics which he lacked.
They were tall and surprisingly upright, considering the weight of years which pressed upon their thin shoulders.

They retained the manners--almost the speech--of the eighteenth century, to which the grandmother who was responsible for their upbringing had belonged; and, with the exception of a very short experience of matrimony in Lady Belstone's case, they had always resided exclusively at Barracombe.
Lady Belstone, besides her widowed dignity, had the advantage of her sister in appearance, mainly because she permitted art, in some degree, to repair the ravages of time.

A stiff _toupet_ of white curls crowned the withered brow, below a widow's cap; and, when she smiled, which was not very often, a double row of pearls was not unpleasantly displayed.

Miss Crewys had never succumbed to the temptations of worldly vanity.

She scrupulously parted her scanty grey locks above her polished forehead, and cared not how wide the parting grew.