English fiction -- 19th century; Labor unions -- Fiction
Even the living faces, being blondes, paled before it, in the one
particular of color. They seemed fair glittering moons, and this a
glowing sun.
Grace's first feelings were those of simple surprise and admiration.
But, as she gazed, Henry's words returned to her, and all manner of
ideas struck her pell-mell. “Oh, beautiful! beautiful!” she cried. Then,
turning to Henry, “You are right; it was not a face to hide from the
world--oh! the likeness! just look at HIM, and then at her! can I be
mistaken?”
This appeal was made to the company, and roused curiosity to a high
pitch; every eye began to compare the dark-skinned beauty on the wall
with the swarthy young man, who now stood there, and submitted in
haughty silence to the comparison.
The words caught Mr. Raby's attention. He made a start, and elbowing
them all out of his way, strode up to the picture.
“What do you say, Miss Carden? What likeness can there be between
my sister and a smith?” and he turned and frowned haughtily on Henry
Little.
Henry returned his look of defiance directly.
But that very exchange of defiance brought out another likeness, which
Grace's quick eye seized directly.
“Why, he is still liker you,” she cried. “Look, good people! Look at
all three. Look at their great black eyes, and their brown hair. Look
at their dark skins, and their haughty noses. Oh, you needn't blow
your nostrils out at me, gentlemen; I am not a bit afraid of either of
you.--And then look at this lovely creature. She is a Raby too, only
softened down by her sweet womanliness. Look at them all three, if they
are not one flesh and blood, I have no eyes.”
“Oh yes, miss; and this lady is his mother. For I have SEEN her; and she
is a sweet lady; and she told me I had a Cairnhope face, and kissed me
for it.”
Upon this from Jael, the general conviction rose into a hum that buzzed
round the room.
Mr. Raby was struck with amazement. At last he turned slowly upon Henry,
and said, with stiff politeness, “Is your name Little, sir?”
“Little is my name, and I'm proud of it.”
“Your name may be Little, but your face is Raby. All the better for you,
sir.”
He then turned his back to the young man, and walked right in front of
the picture, and looked at it steadily and sadly.
It was a simple and natural action, yet somehow done in so imposing a
way, that the bystanders held their breath, to see what would follow.
He gazed long and steadily on the picture, and his features worked
visibly.
“Ay!” he said. “Nature makes no such faces nowadays. Poor unfortunate
girl!” And his voice faltered a moment.
He then began to utter, in a low grave voice, some things that took
every body by surprise, by the manner as well as the matter; for, with
his never once taking his eyes off the picture, and speaking in a voice
softened by the sudden presence of that womanly beauty, the companion of
his youth, it was just like a man speaking softly in a dream.
“Thomas, this picture will remain as it is while I live.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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