iour, on the present occasion, was
anything but what it ought to be. Previous, however, to directing my
mind to the service, I glanced round the church to see if any one had
been observing me;--but no,--all, who were not attending to their
prayer-books, were attending to the strange lady,--my good mother and
sister among the rest, and Mrs. Wilson and her daughter; and even Eliza
Millward was slily glancing from the corners of her eyes towards the
object of general attraction. Then she glanced at me, simpered a little,
and blushed, modestly looked at her prayer-book, and endeavoured to
compose her features.

Here I was transgressing again; and this time I was made sensible of it
by a sudden dig in the ribs, from the elbow of my pert brother. For the
present, I could only resent the insult by pressing my foot upon his
toes, deferring further vengeance till we got out of church.

Now, Halford, before I close this letter, I'll tell you who Eliza
Millward was: she was the vicar's younger daughter, and a very engaging
little creature, for whom I felt no small degree of partiality;--and she
knew it, though I had never come to any direct explanation, and had no
definite intention of so doing, for my mother, who maintained there was
no one good enough for me within twenty miles round, could not bear the
thoughts of my marrying that insignificant little thing, who, in addition
to her numerous other disqualifications, had not twenty pounds to call
her own. Eliza's figure was at once slight and plump, her face small,
and nearly as round as my sister's,--complexion, something similar to
hers, but more delicate and less decidedly blooming,--nose,
retrousse,--features, generally irregular; and, altogether, she was
rather charming than pretty. But her eyes--I must not forget those
remarkable features, for therein her chief attraction lay--in outward
aspect at least;--they were long and narrow in shape, the irids black, or
very dark brown, the expression various, and ever changing, but always
either preternaturally--I had almost said diabolically--wicked, or
irresistibly bewitching--often both. Her voice was gentle and childish,
her tread light and soft as that of a cat:--but her manners more
frequently resembled those of a pretty playful kitten, that is now pert
and roguish, now timid and demure, according to its own sweet will.

Her sister, Mary, was several years older, several inches taller, and of
a larger, coarser build--a