air。 The hue of her dress was black too; but its fashion was so different from her sister’s—so much more flowing and being—it looked as stylish as the other’s looked puritanical。
In each of the sisters there was one trait of the mother—and only one; the thin and pallid elder daughter had her parent’s Cairngorm eye: the blooming and luxuriant younger girl had her contour of jaw and chin—perhaps a little softened; but still imparting an indescribable hardness to the countenance otherwise so voluptuous and buxom。
Both ladies; as I advanced; rose to wele me; and both addressed me by the name of “Miss Eyre。” Eliza’s greeting was delivered in a short; abrupt voice; without a smile; and then she sat down again; fixed her eyes on the fire; and seemed to forget me。 Georgiana added to her “How d’ye do?” several monplaces about my journey; the weather; and so on; uttered in rather a drawling tone: and acpanied by sundry side…glances that measured me from head to foot—now traversing the folds of my drab merino pelisse; and now lingering on the plain trimming of my cottage bon。 Young ladies have a remarkable way of letting you know that they think you a “quiz” without actually saying the words。 A certain superciliousness of look; coolness of manner; nonchalance of tone; express fully their sentiments on the point; without mitting them by any positive rudeness in word or deed。
A sneer; however; whether covert or open; had now no longer that power over me it once possessed: as I sat between my cousins; I was surprised to find how easy I felt under the total neglect of the one and the semi…sarcastic attentions of the other—Eliza did not mortify; nor Georgiana ruffle me。 The fact was; I had other things to think about; within the last few months feelings had been st