O'Halloran hadn't mentioned their names, but the names soon came out.
They were evidently his daughters. The name of the eldest I found was
Nora, and the name of the younger was Marion. The old gentleman was
lively, and gave a highly-dramatic account of the affair at the
concert, in which he represented my conduct in the most glowing light.
The ladies listened to all this with undisguised agitation,
interrupting him frequently with anxious questions, and regarding my
humble self as a sort of a hero. All this was in the highest degree
encouraging to a susceptible mind; and I soon found myself sliding off
into an easy, a frank, an eloquent, and a very delightful conversation.
Of the two ladies, the elder Miss O'Halloran took the chief share in
that lively yet intellectual intercourse. Marion only put in a word
occasionally; and, though very amiable, still did not show so much
cordiality as her sister. But Miss O'Halloran! what wit! what sparkle!
what mirth! what fun! what repartee! what culture! what refinement!
what an acquaintance with the world! what a knowledge of men and
things! what a faultless accent! what indescribable grace of manner!
what a generous and yet ladylike humor! what a merry, musical laugh!
what quickness of apprehension! what acuteness of perception! what--
words fail. Imagine every thing that is delightful in a first-rate
conversationalist, and every thing that is fascinating in a lady, and
even then you will fail to have a correct idea of Miss O'Halloran. To
have such an idea it would be necessary to see her.
Marion on the other hand was quiet, as I have said. Perhaps this arose
from a reticence of disposition; or perhaps it was merely the result of
her position as a younger sister. Her beautiful face, with its calm,
self-poised expression, was turned toward us, and she listened to all
that was said, and at times a smile like a sunbeam would flash over her
lovely features; but it was only at times, when a direct appeal was
made to her, that she would speak, and then her words were few, though
quite to the point. I had not, therefore, a fair chance of comparing
her with Miss O'Halloran.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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