rell. Now, Solomon, only you have
no relish for anything except what's sanctified and spiritual, you would
say that here comes such a specimen of Irish beauty as you have seldom
seen."

"I never had any objection," said Solomon, who, in spite of all his
gravity, betrayed an alertness on this occasion that was certainly not
usual to him;--"I never had any objection to look upon any work from
His hand, with pleasure. Indeed, on the contrary, I often felt that
it raised my sense of--of what was beautiful, in such a way that my
feelings became, as it were, full of a sweet fervor that was not to
be despised; I will consequently not decline to look upon this comely
widow--that is--in the serious light I mention."

"How do you do, Mrs. Tyrrell? I hope you have not got much wet?" said
Val, turning round very blandly.

"Oh, Mrs. Tyrrell, I hope you're very well," followed Phil; "I fear you
have got wet--have the goodness to take a chair, Mrs. Tyrrell--and a
glass of wine, ma'am."

Mrs. Tyrrell took a chair, but she declined the glass of wine.
Mrs. Tyrrell had been the wife of a young husband, who died in his
twenty-fourth year, just when they had been about a year and a half
married. She was herself, on the day in question, about the same age as
her husband when he died. She had been a widow just two years, and
had one child, a son. She was indeed a beautiful woman--in fact a very
beautiful woman, as one could almost see in her humble condition
of life. Her tresses were a raven black, but her skin was white and
polished as ivory. Her face was a fine specimen of the oval--her brows
exquisitely pencilled--and her large black, but mellow eyes, flashed
a look that went into your very heart. But, if there was anything that
struck you as being more fascinating than another, it was the expression
of innocence, and purity, and sweetness, that lay about her small
mouth and beautifully rounded chin. Her form was symmetry itself, and a
glimpse of the small, but beautiful foot and ankle, left no doubt upon
the mind as to the general harmony of her whole figure. On this occasion
there was a positive air about her which added to the interest she
excited; for, we believe, it may be truly observed, that beauty never
appears so impressively or tenderly fascinating, as when it is slightly
overshadowed with care. We need scarcely say, that there was a great
deal of contrast in the gaze she received from Phil and our friend
Solomon. That of Ph