slender than
full.

Her face did not at first sight strike you more than her person, as being
beautiful; for it was singularly still and inexpressive when at
rest--although all the features were fine and classically regular--and was
almost unnaturally pale and hueless. The mouth only, had any thing of
warmth, or color, or expression; and what expression there was, was not
pleasing, for although soft and winning, it was sensual to the last
degree.

Her manner, however, contradicted this; for she slided into the circle,
with downcast eyes, the long dark silky lashes only visible in relief
against the marble paleness of her cheek, as if she were ashamed to raise
them from the ground; her whole air being that of a girl oppressed with
overwhelming bashfulness, to an extent almost painful.

"Why, what is this, Aurelia," exclaimed Catiline, as if he were angry,
although in truth the whole thing was carefully preconcerted. "Wherefore
is Lucia thus strangely clad? Is it, I pray you, in scorn of our noble
guests, that she wears only this plain morning stola?"

"Pardon her, I beseech you, good my Sergius," answered his wife, with a
painfully simulated smile; "you know how over-timid she is and bashful;
she had determined not to appear at dinner, had I not laid my commands on
her. Her very hair, you see, is not braided."

"Ha! this is ill done, my girl Lucia," answered Catiline. "What will my
young friend, Arvina, think of you, who comes hither to-day, for the first
time? For Curius and our lovely Fulvia, I care not so much, seeing they
know your whims; but I am vexed, indeed, that Paullus should behold you
thus in disarray, with your hair thus knotted like a slave girl's, on your
neck."

"Like a Dryad's, rather, or shy Oread's of Diana's train--beautiful hair!"
replied the youth, whose attention had been called to the girl by this
conversation; and who, having thought her at first unattractive rather
than otherwise, had now discovered the rare beauties of her lythe and
slender figure, and detected, as he thought, a world of passion in her
serpent-like and sinuous motions.

She raised her eyes to meet his slowly, as he spoke; gazed into them for
one moment, and then, as if ashamed of what she had done, dropped them
again instantly; while a bright crimson flush shot like a stream of lava
over her pallid face, and neck, and arms; yes, her arms blushed, and her
hands to the finger ends! It was but one moment, that those large