Glass doors were carefully closed over them and locked, as if the books were beatified and laid away in shrines.

And the same solemn order extended to the library table, which was precisely in the middle of the room, with a large, solemn family Bible precisely in the middle of the table, and smaller books, like satellites, precisely upon the corners, and precisely on one side an empty glass inkstand, innocent of ink spot or stain of any kind, with a pen carefully mended and evidently carefully never used, and an exemplary pen-wiper, which was as unsullied as might be expected of a wiper which had only wiped that pen which was never dipped into that inkstand which had been always empty.

The inkstand was supported on the other side of the Bible by an equally immaculate ivory paper-knife.
The large leather library chairs were arranged in precisely the proper angle at the corners of the table, and the smaller chairs stood under the windows two by two.

All was cold and clean, and locked up--all--except a portrait that hung against the wall, and below which Mrs.Simcoe stopped, still holding the miniature in her hand.
It was the likeness of a lovely girl, whose rich, delicate loveliness, full of tender but tremulous character, seemed to be a kind of foreshadowing of Hope Wayne.

The eyes were of a deep, soft darkness, that held the spectator with a dreamy fascination.