Her small, flat face with its yellowish and unhealthy tinge, its light melancholy eyes, and its look of lifeless and inhuman sanctification, exhaled the dried fragrance of a pressed flower.

So disheartening was her appearance to Gabriella that it was a relief to turn from her to the freshness of Margaret, handsome, athletic, with cheeks like roses and the natural grace of a young animal.
"Oh, Aunt Gabriella, I hadn't any idea you were like this!" cried the girl with nave enthusiasm.
"You thought of me as gray-haired and wearing a bonnet and mantle ?" "No, not that, but I didn't dream you were so handsome.

I thought mother was the beauty of the family.

But what a wonderful dress you have on! Are they wearing all those flounces around the hips ?" "There is no doubt about it, you are getting a lot better looking as you grow older," observed Charley, with genial pleasantry.
"She keeps herself up.

There is a great deal in that," remarked Jane, and the speech was so characteristic of her that Gabriella tossed back gaily: "Well, I'm not old, you know.