“Why, they have both brown hair, blue eyes, and red lips, if that constitutes likeness; but while one has the mere beauty of extreme youth, the other is the most perfect model of female loveliness I ever beheld.” “You are very far gone,” observed Hamilton, gravely. “I am giving my opinion as an artist,” he replied, smiling. “You will understand my enthusiasm when I tell you that I spend all my leisure hours studying portrait-painting.” “You came here just now, probably, to take a sketch of this most perfect model! But tell me, honestly, did she promise to meet you here?” “How can you ask such downright questions? There are different kinds of beauty, and different kinds of dispositions. I did not exactly judge it expedient to say, ‘Meet me this evening in the cloisters’; but I talked of the beauty of the shadows here about sunset, and of my intention to finish a little _aquarelle_ drawing of the said cloisters, with a Benedictine monk issuing from one of the adjoining passages—something just adapted for a lady’s album. I came. Had you not been here, I have no doubt I should have obtained a few minutes’ attention in spite of my ugliness.” “She came here, however, expressly to meet me,” observed Hamilton, maliciously. The Count stopped suddenly, and looked inquiringly in his companion’s face. “She came with a message from her sister,” added Hamilton, quietly, and they again walked on together. “In fact,” he continued, “when you joined us, we were in the midst of a kind of altercation, which made your presence, to me at least, a great relief.” “An altercation! About what, may I ask?” “About her sister. She asked me in pretty plain terms what my intentions were, proposed my entering the lists fairly and honourably with Major Stultz; and, when I demurred, she talked angrily of despising me, and so forth. Depend on it, she will call you to account before long.” “I am quite ready to be called to account.” “You do not mean to say you think seriously of marrying!” “I should be but too happy! There is no such luck in store for me!” “You think she would refuse you?” “I don’t know; but I know my father would refuse his consent.” “Run off with her, and ask his consent afterwards.” “I wish I could, but that is impossible here. Marriage is with us a civil as well as a religious act. You have no idea of the formalities attending it, or the certificates necessary to make it valid; besides which, my being in the army increases the difficulty. That cursed caution-money!” “Caution-money? What is that?”