Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, Vol. 22, August, 1878Various
History
Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, Vol. 22, August, 1878
Various
Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Science -- Periodicals
She would melt Helen too by drawing a picture of her own poverty and
state of dreary unhappiness beside the good fortune of the heiress,
until the little girl would search through the house to find another
present for her, which she besought her beautiful goddess almost on
her knees to accept. All these traits, which showed that Georgina was
far from perfect, caused me a misery proportionate to my longing to
have her all that was lovely and excellent. It is indeed unfair to
write of faults which are so easy to portray, and to say nothing of
the beauty of feature and charm of manner, which might have been
enough to persuade any one who looked into her face that she was one
of God's own angels. What does beauty mean if it be not the blossoming
of inner perfection into outward loveliness? And Georgina Lenox was
beautiful to every eye. Let every one who reads my story know and feel
that she had the beauty which can stir the coldest blood--the eyes
whose look of entreaty could melt the most implacable resolution--the
smile which could lure, the voice which could make every man follow.
CHAPTER VI.
Mr. Floyd had again entered upon active life in Washington, and his
duties were so absorbing that it was almost impossible for him to find
any opportunity of joining me at The Headlands, as he had promised.
But just as my visit was drawing to an end he came, and kept me on for
the week of his stay. I had become used to the routine of life at Mr.
Raymond's, and had again and again wondered if Mr. Floyd's presence
there would make any difference; but the change in the entire aspect
of the household after the advent of my guardian absolutely startled
me. Mr. Raymond was again master of the house, and little Helen
was left free of all care and responsibility. There seemed a tacit
understanding between Mills and the child and her grandfather that Mr.
Floyd was to gain not the faintest idea of the usual state of things.
Mr. Raymond wore a dignity which was not without its pathetic side: he
no longer touched wine, although a different vintage was offered with
every course, and his selfish, peevish ways seemed entirely forgotten.
Helen had grown steadily stronger every week of my stay, and now that
her father was with her she rallied at once into a happy, careless
state of mind which made her almost as light-hearted a child as one
could wish. She had none of Georgy's gay boisterousness, but her
blitheness of heart seemed like a lambent fire playing over profound
depths of gladness and security.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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