But this is easily accounted for; and the progress of our tale will save us the trouble of dwelling farther upon it now.

Her skin, though slightly tinged by the sun, was beautifully smooth and fair.

Her features might not be held regular; perhaps not exactly such as in a critical examination we should call or consider handsome; but they were attractive nevertheless, strongly marked, and well defined.

Her eyes were darkly blue; not languishingly so, but on the contrary rather lively and intelligent in their accustomed expression.

Her mouth, exquisitely chiselled, and colored by the deepest blushes of the rose, had a seductive persuasiveness about it that might readily win one's own to some unconscious liberties; while the natural position of the lips, leaving them slightly parted, gave to the mouth an added attraction in the double range which was displayed beneath of pearl-like and well-formed teeth; her hair was unconfined, but short; and rendered the expression of her features more youthful and girl-like than might have been the result of its formal arrangement--it was beautifully glossy, and of a dark brown color.
Her demeanor was that of maidenly reserve, and a ladylike dignity, a quiet serenity, approaching--at periods, when any remark calculated to infringe in the slightest degree upon those precincts with which feminine delicacy and form have guarded its possessor--a stern severity of glance, approving her a creature taught in the true school of propriety, and chastened with a spirit that slept not on a watch, always of perilous exposure in one so young and of her sex.