There was a singular cast in the eye, and a kind of lofty, irresistible command in the whole aspect, which appeared to be quite as much an assumption of manner as a real superiority.

In fact it was the likeness of what is technically called a man of the world, whose frank insolence and symmetry of feature pass for manly beauty and composure.
The miniature was in the face of a gold locket, on the back of which there was a curl of the same fair hair.

It was so fresh and glossy that it might have been cut off the day before.

But the quaintness of the setting and the costume of the portrait showed that it had been taken many years previous, and that in the order of nature the original was probably dead.
As Mrs.Simcoe held the miniature in both hands and looked at it, her body still rocked over it, and her lips still murmured.
Then rocking and murmuring stopped together, and she seemed like one listening to music or the ringing of distant bells.
And as she sat perfectly still in the golden September sunshine, it was as if it had shone into her soul; so that a softer light streamed into her eyes, and the hard inscrutability of her face melted as by some internal warmth, and a tender rejuvenescence somehow blossomed out upon her cheeks until all the sweetness became sadness, and heavy tears dropped from her eyes upon the picture.
Then, with the old harshness stealing into her face again, she rose calmly, carrying the miniature in her hand, and went out of the room, and down the stairs into the library, which was opposite the parlor in which Abel Newt had seen the picture of old Grandpa Burt at the age of ten, holding a hoop and book.
There were book-shelves upon every side but one--stately ranges of well-ordered books in substantial old calf and gilt English bindings, and so carefully placed upon the shelves, in such methodical distribution of shapes and sizes, that the whole room had an air of preternatural propriety utterly foreign to a library.

It seemed the most select and aristocratic society of books--much too fine to permit the excitement of interest in any thing they contained--much too high-bred to be of the slightest use in imparting information.