The Cameron pride; or, purified by suffering : $b A novelHolmes, Mary Jane
General
The Cameron pride; or, purified by suffering : $b A novel
Holmes, Mary Jane
American fiction -- 19th century
Katy had been a little frightened at the outburst, but she liked Mr.
Cameron notwithstanding, and her heart was lighter as she went down to
the library, where Wilford met her at the door, and taking her on his
arm led her in to his sisters, holding her back as he presented her,
lest she should assault them as she had his mother. But Katy felt no
desire to hug the tall, queenly girl whom Wilford introduced as Juno,
and whose black eyes seemed to read her through as she offered her hand
and very daintily kissed her forehead, murmuring something about a
welcome to New York. Bell came next, broad-faced, plainer-looking Bell,
who yet had many pretentions to beauty, but whose manner, if possible,
was frostier, cooler than her sister’s. Of the two Katy liked Juno best,
for there was about her a flash and sparkle very fascinating to one who
had never seen anything of the kind, and did not know that much of this
vivacity was the result of patient study and practice. Katy would have
known they were high bred, as the world defines high breeding, and
something in their manner reminded her of the ladies she had seen
abroad, ladies in whose veins lordly blood was flowing. She could not
help feeling uncomfortable in their presence, especially as she felt
that Juno’s black eyes were on her constantly. Not that she could ever
meet them looking at her, for they darted away the instant hers were
raised, but she knew just when they returned to her again, and how
closely they were scanning her.
“Your wife looks tired, Will. Let her sit down,” Bell said, herself
wheeling the easy-chair nearer to the fire, while Wilford placed Katy in
it; then, thinking she would get on better if he were not there, he left
the room, and Katy was alone with her new sisters.
Juno had examined her dress and found no fault with it, simply because
it was Parisian made; while Bell had examined her head, deciding that
there might be something in it, though she doubted it, but that at all
events short hair was very becoming to it, showing all its fine
proportions, and half deciding to have her own locks cut away. Juno had
a similar thought, wondering if it were the Paris fashion, and if she
would look as young in proportion as Katy did were her hair worn on her
neck.
With their brother’s departure the tongues of both the girls were
loosened, and standing near to Katy they began to question her of what
she had seen, Juno asking if she did not hate to leave Italy, and did
not wish herself back again. Wholly truthful, Katy answered, “Oh, yes, I
would rather be there than home.”
“Complimentary to us, very,” Bell murmured audibly in French, blushing
as Katy’s eyes were lifted quickly to hers, and she knew she was
understood.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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