exion
revealed her age, and her voice was pitched to the tones of good society,
so that but for a certain 'don't care' sound in her words, and a defiant
freedom of address, Phoebe would have set down all she had heard as a
mistake, in spite of the table covered with the brilliant appliances of
fly-making, over which both she and Lucilla were engaged. It was at the
period when ladies affected coats and waistcoats, and both cousins
followed the fashion to the utmost; wearing tightly-fitting black coats,
plain linen collars, and shirt-like under-sleeves, with black ties round
the neck. Horatia was still in mourning for her mother, and wore a black
skirt, but Lucilla's was of rich deep gentianella-coloured silk, and the
buttons of her white vest were of beautiful coral. The want of drapery
gave a harshness to Miss Charteris's appearance, but the little masculine
affectations only rendered Lucy's miniature style of feminine beauty
still more piquant. Less tall than many girls of fourteen, she was
exquisitely formed; the close-fitting dress became her taper waist, the
ivory fairness of the throat and hands shone out in their boyish setting,
and the soft delicacy of feature and complexion were enhanced by the
vivid sparkling of those porcelain blue eyes, under the long lashes,
still so fair and glossy as to glisten in the light, like her profuse
flaxen tresses, arranged in a cunning wilderness of plaits and natural
ringlets. The great charm was the minuteness and refinement of the mould
containing the energetic spirit that glanced in her eyes, quivered on her
lips, and pervaded every movement of the elastic feet and hands,
childlike in size, statue-like in symmetry, elfin in quickness and
dexterity. 'Lucile la Fee,' she might well have been called, as she sat
manipulating the gorgeous silk and feathers with an essential strength
and firmness of hands such as could hardly have been expected from such
small members, and producing such lovely specimens that nothing seemed
wanting but a touch of her wand to endow them with life. It was fit
fairy work, and be it farther known, that few women are capable of it;
they seldom have sufficient accuracy of sustained attention and firmness
of finger combined, to produce anything artistic or durable, and the
accomplishment was therefore Lucilla's pride. Her cousin could prepare
materials, but could not finish. 'Have you brought the pig's wool?'
repeated Lucy, as they sat down. 'No?