an
airing in the Mall at the same time--a family whose name was Mowbray,
consisting of a widow lady, her son, and daughter. This introduction was
made in compliance with my own request. I had been struck by the
singular beauty of the younger lady, whose countenance had a peculiar
and inexpressible charm to me, from its marked resemblance to the
portrait of the Lady Eleanor Rookwood, whose charms and unhappy fate I
have so often dwelt upon and deplored. The picture is there," continued
Ranulph, pointing to it: "look at it, and you have the fair creature I
speak of before you; the color of the hair--the tenderness of the eyes.
No--the expression is not so sad, except when----but no matter! I
recognized her features at once.

"It struck me, that upon the mention of my name, the party betrayed some
surprise, especially the elder lady. For my own part, I was so attracted
by the beauty of the daughter, the effect of which upon me seemed rather
the fulfilment of a predestined event, originating in the strange
fascination which the family portrait had wrought in my heart, than the
operation of what is called 'love at first sight,' that I was insensible
to the agitation of the mother. In vain I endeavored to rally myself; my
efforts at conversation were fruitless; I could not talk--all I could do
was silently to yield to the soft witchery of those tender eyes; my
admiration increasing each instant that I gazed upon them.

"I accompanied them home. Attracted as by some irresistible spell, I
could not tear myself away; so that, although I fancied I could perceive
symptoms of displeasure in the looks of both the mother and the son,
yet, regardless of consequences, I ventured, uninvited, to enter the
house. In order to shake off the restraint which I felt my society
imposed, I found it absolutely necessary to divest myself of
bashfulness, and to exert such conversational powers as I possessed. I
succeeded so well that the discourse soon became lively and animated;
and what chiefly delighted me was, that _she_, for whose sake I had
committed my present rudeness, became radiant with smiles. I had been
all eagerness to seek for some explanation of the resemblance to which I
have just alluded, and the fitting moment had, I conceived, arrived. I
called attention to a peculiar expression in the features of Miss
Mowbray, and then instanced the likeness that subsisted between her and
my ancestress. 'It is the more singular,' I said, turni