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CHAPTERV
THETERRACEGARDEN.
AliceMaybellgrewupverypretty;notariant
beauty,withoutmuchcolour,ratherpale,indeed,and
alittlesad.Whatstruckoneatfirstsightwasaslender
figure,withaprettinessineverymotion.Aclear-tinted
ovalface,withverylargedarkgrayeyes,such
asChaucerdescribesinhisbeautiesas“ey-esgray
asglass,”withverylonglashes;herlipsofavery
brilliantred,withevenlittleteeth,andwhenshe
smiledagreatmanytinysoftdimples.
ThisprettycreatureledalonelylifeatWyvern.
Betweenherandtheyoungsquires,Charlesand
Henry,thereintervenedthegreatgulfoftwentyyears,
andshewasleftverymuchtoherself.
Sometimessherodeintothevillagewiththeold
Squire;shesatintheWyvernpeweverySunday;but
exceptonthoseandlikeoccasions,thetownsfolksaw
littleofher.
“‘Taintafterherfatherormothershetakeswith
themairsofhers;therewasnoprideintheVicar
orpoorMrs.Maybell,andshe’llneverbelikeher
mother,anicelittlethingshewas.”
SosaidMrs.FordoftheGeorgeInnatWyvern–but
whatshecalledpridewasinrealityshyness.
AboutMissMaybelltherewasaveryoddrumour
afloatinthetown.Ithadgotaboutthatthisbeautiful
youngladywasinlovewitholdSquireFairfield–or
atleastwithhisestateofWyvern.
Thevillagedoctorwasstandingwithhisbacktohis
drawing-roomfire,andthenewspaperinhislefthand
loweredtohisknee–asheheldforthtohiswife,and
romanticoldMrs.Diaper–atthetea-table.
“Ifsheisinlovewiththatoldman,astheysay,take
mywordforit,she’llnotbelongoutofamad-house.”
