consisted in a discussion of the storm, which, although much
abated, was not yet over. At length, after an intimation that his room
was ready for him, he withdrew, accompanied by a servant, got into an
admirable bed, and in a few minutes was fast asleep.
CHAPTER III. Breakfast next morning.
--Woodward, on his way Home, meets a Stranger.--Their Conversation.
The next morning he joined the family in the breakfast parlor, where he
was received with much kindness and attention. The stranger was a young
man, probably about twenty-seven, well made, and with features that must
be pronounced good; but, from whatever cause it proceeded, they were
felt to be by no means agreeable. It was impossible to quarrel with, or
find fault with them; their symmetry was perfect; the lip well defined,
but hard and evidently unfeeling; his brows, which joined each other,
were black, and, what was very peculiar, were heaviest where they
met--a circumstance which, notwithstanding the regularity of his other
features, gave him, unless when he smiled, a frowning if not a sinister
aspect. That, however, which was most remarkable in his features was
the extraordinary fact that his eyes were each of a different color, one
being black and piercing in its gleam, and the other gray; from which
circumstance he was known from his childhood by the name of _Harry na
Suil Gloir_--Suil Gloir being an epithet always bestowed by the Irish
upon persons who possessed eyes of that unnatural character. This
circumstance, however, was not observed on that occasion by any of the
family. His general manners, though courteous, were cold, and by no
means such as were calculated either to bestow or inspire confidence.
His language, too, was easy enough when he spoke, but a cold habit of
reserve seemed to permeate his whole being, and to throw a chill upon
the feelings of those to whom he addressed himself. So much was this the
case that when ever he assumed an air of familiarity a dark, strange,
and undefinable spirit, which was strongly felt, seemed not only to
contradict his apparent urbanity, but to impress his auditors with a
sense of uneasiness sometimes amounting to pain--an impression, however,
for which they could not at all account.
"Sir," said Mr. Goodwin, "I hope you slept well after what you suffered
under the tempest of last night?"
"I assure you, sir, I never enjoyed a rounder night's sleep in my life,"
replied their guest; "and were it no
|