The deep low bow gratified her. She knew that she was gifted with a wondrous dower of beauty. She knew that men were meek when a beautiful face charmed them. The involuntary homage of this handsome young man pleased her. She would have more of it. When he rejoined his companion, she heard him say: "What a wonderful face, Euston--the most beautiful I have ever seen in my life." That pleased her still more; she smiled to herself. "Perhaps I shall see him again," she thought. Then one of the girls from the village passed the gate, and stopped for a few minutes' conversation. "Did you see those gentlemen?" asked the girl; and Leone answered: "Yes." "They have both come to live at Dr. Hervey's, to 'read,' whatever that means. The young one, with the fair hair, is a lord, the eldest son of a great earl; I do not remember the name." So it was a great lord who had bowed to her, and thought her more beautiful than any one he had ever seen. Her heart beat with triumph. She bade the girl good-morning, and went back. Her beautiful face was brilliant with smiles. She entered the house and went up to her glass. She wanted to see again, for herself, the face he had called beautiful. Mirrored there, she saw two dark eyes, full of fire, bright, radiant, and luminous--eyes that could have lured and swayed a nation; a beautiful, oval face, the features of which were perfect; a white brow, with dark, straight eyebrows; sweet, red lips, like a cloven rose; the most beautiful chin, with a rare dimple; an imperial face, suited for a queen's crown or the diadem of an empress, but out of place on this simple farm. She saw grand, sloping shoulders, beautiful arms, and a figure that was perfect in its symmetry and grace. She smiled contentedly. She was beautiful, undoubtedly. She was glad that others saw it. If a young lord admired her, she must be worth admiring. Her good humor was quite restored. How came it that this girl, with the beauty of a young princess, was at home in the farmhouse? It was a simple story. The farmer, Robert Noel, had only one brother, who loved romance and travel. Stephen Noel, after trying every profession, and every means of obtaining a livelihood, at last decided on becoming a civil engineer; he went to Spain to help with a rail-road in the province of Andalusia, and there fell in love with and married a beautiful Andalusian, Pepita by name. Dark-eyed Pepita died on the same day Leone was born, and the young father, distracted by his loss, took the child home to England. The old housekeeper at the Rashleigh farm took the girl, and Robert Noel consented that she should be brought up as a child of his own.