, and the
most beautiful also, where every one was more or less good-looking.
She had soft brown hair, dark blue-gray eyes of the tenderest
expression, and a beseeching innocent look. She was fond of music;
played and sang very fairly herself; but she was most admirable as a
listener. In a room filled with half-murmuring people, she alone
remained mute and devoted; her chair drawn close to the piano; her form
motionless. It is true her brother boldly attributed Edith's strict
observance of this attitude to the fact that she knew she had a
striking profile, and that in no other way could she be so well seen by
the room. But then there are some people who will say anything.

In point of family order Nan Beresford came next; but, as we have seen,
she was at this moment away out on the downs, marching briskly, and
much pleased with herself and the world generally.

'The Baby' was the youngest of the sisters--a pretty child of fifteen;
a trifle spoiled and bad-tempered, otherwise characterless enough. So
now we may pass on to the personage who considered himself of chief
consequence in the house--Mr. Thomas Beresford, the only son, who now
stood at the window, thrumming on the panes, to the infinite annoyance
of his mother. He was an exceedingly handsome boy of about eighteen,
slightly built, tall, and dressed with an elaborate precision. The lad
was clever enough, and good-natured enough, but he had been spoiled all
his life long--first by his sisters, and then by the men who wanted to
marry his sisters. He harried and worried the whole household
indiscriminately, but he was especially hard upon Nan. He said Nan had
a character that he wished to form. Girls wanted roughing. There was
far too much flimsiness and fashionability about their social circle.
In time he trusted to be able to make something out of Nan.

Well, he was thrumming contemplatively on the window-panes, watching
this big dark ship come along from the west.

'Thomas, I wish you would cease that distressing noise,' said his
mother, with a plaintive sigh.

He ceased his thrumming and took to whistling.

'Tom,' said the musical sister, 'I do wish you wouldn't try to pick up
new airs. You can't do it. Why don't you keep to "Home, Sweet Home,"
or "In a Cottage near a Wood"----'

But, to give effect to this remonstrance, she had turned in her chair
in which she was reading, and, in so doing, came in sight of the
window, and the sea, and the n