hould read it. I know nothing in the English language that
brings home to one so often one's own best feelings and aspirations.
'It stands all-beautiful in naked purity,'" she continued, still
alluding to poor Sir Florian's soul. "'Instinct with inexpressible
beauty and grace, Each stain of earthliness had passed away.' I can
see him now in all his manly beauty, as we used to sit together by
the hour, looking over the waters. Oh, Julia, the thing itself has
gone,--the earthly reality; but the memory of it will live for ever!"

"He was a very handsome man, certainly," said Miss Macnulty, finding
herself forced to say something.

"I see him now," she went on, still gazing out upon the shining
water. "'It reassumed its native dignity, and stood Primeval amid
ruin.' Is not that a glorious idea, gloriously worded?" She had
forgotten one word and used a wrong epithet; but it sounded just as
well. Primeval seemed to her to be a very poetical word.

"To tell the truth," said Miss Macnulty, "I never understand poetry
when it is quoted unless I happen to know the passage beforehand. I
think I'll go away from this, for the light is too much for my poor
old eyes." Certainly Miss Macnulty had fallen into a profession for
which she was not suited.

CHAPTER XXII

Lady Eustace Procures a Pony for the Use of Her Cousin

Lady Eustace could make nothing of Miss Macnulty in the way of
sympathy, and could not bear her disappointment with patience. It was
hardly to be expected that she should do so. She paid a great deal
for Miss Macnulty. In a moment of rash generosity, and at a time when
she hardly knew what money meant, she had promised Miss Macnulty
seventy pounds for the first year, and seventy for the second, should
the arrangement last longer than a twelvemonth. The second year had
been now commenced, and Lady Eustace was beginning to think that
seventy pounds was a great deal of money when so very little was
given in return. Lady Linlithgow had paid her dependant no fixed
salary. And then there was the lady's "keep," and first-class
travelling when they went up and down to Scotland, and cab-fares
in London when it was desirable that Miss Macnulty should absent
herself. Lizzie, reckoning all up, and thinking that for so much
her friend ought to be ready to discuss Ianthe's soul, or any other
kindred subject, at a moment's warning, would become angry, and would
tell herself that she was being swindled out of her money. S