and a little fond of showing off her
extensive acquaintance with modern literature. Her interest in Mr.
Hogarth was great, though of recent date; and now to see one of the
cousins whom he was forbidden to marry, on pain of losing all his
newly-acquired wealth and consequence, was an exciting thing to a young
lady who had suffered much from want of excitement. Her father had been
able to tell her nothing of Miss Melville s personal appearance, though
he had dwelt upon her abilities and her eccentric character, and told
her age. Among the party was the publisher to whom Jane had applied for
a situation, who had contributed his share of information about her; a
young Edinburgh advocate, who had not very much to do at the bar; a
Leith merchant, an old gentleman of property in the neighbourhood of
the city, and two college students, all anxious to see people who were
so much talked about.

"Decidedly plain and common-looking, and looks twenty-seven at least,"
was Miss Rennie's verdict on seeing Miss Melville.

"Plain, but uncommon-looking," was the opinion of the gentlemen on the
subject. The open, intelligent, and womanly expression of
countenance--the well-turned neck and shoulders--the easy,
well-proportioned figure--though not of the slight ethereal style which
Mr. Hawthorne admires, but rather of the healthy, well-developed
flesh-and-blood character of British feminine beauty--might redeem a
good deal of irregularity of features.

Though her self-possession had been sorely tried on this day, though
she had been disappointed, and was now worn out and perplexed, and
though her faith in human nature had been shaken, she made an effort to
recover the equanimity necessary for such an evening as this, and
succeeded. Her quiet and lady-like manner surprised Mr. Rennie; he had
thought her masculine in the morning. She listened with patience and
pleasure to Miss Rennie's playing and singing, and then looked over
some books of engravings and prints with the old gentleman, who was a
connoisseur. And when the advocate and the publisher, between whom
there seemed to be a good understanding, entered into conversation on
literary matters, and successful and unsuccessful works, she, thinking
of her sister and her hopes, listened most attentively.

"Well," said the legal gentleman, "I like smart, clever writing, and
don't object to a little personality now and then. It pays, too."

"Those things certainly take well," said the publ