expressive countenance, a thoughtful, deep-set* grey eye, and a
remarkably fine head, with a profusion of curling brown hair, which gave
a distinguished air to his whole appearance; so that he was constantly
taken by strangers for a gentleman; and the gentle propriety with which
he was accustomed to correct the mistake was such as seldom failed to
heighten their estimation of the individual, whilst it set them right as
to his station. Hannah Colson, with all her youthful charms, might think
herself a lucky damsel in securing the affections of such a lover as
this; and that she did actually think so was the persuasion of those
who knew her best--of her mother, of her brother William, and of Lucy
Meadows; although the coy, fantastic beauty, shy as a ring-dove, wild
as a fawn of the forest, was so far from confessing any return of
affection, that whilst suffering his attentions, and accepting his
escort to the rural gaieties which beseemed her age, she would now
profess, even while hanging on his arm, her intention of never marrying,
and now coquet before his eyes with some passing admirer whom she had
never seen before. She took good care, however, not to go too far in her
coquetry, or to flirt twice with the same person; and so contrived
to temper her resolutions against matrimony with "nods and becks and
wreathed smiles," that, modest as he was by nature, and that natural
modesty enhanced by the diffidence which belongs to a deep and ardent
passion, James Meadows himself saw no real cause for fear in the pretty
petulance of his fair mistress, in a love of power so full of playful
grace that it seemed rather a charm than a fault, and in a blushing
reluctance to change her maiden state, and lose her maiden freedom,
which had in his eyes all the attractions of youthful shamefaced-ness.
That she would eventually be his own dear wife, James entertained
no manner of doubt; and, pleased with all that pleased her, was not
unwilling to prolong the happy days of courtship.

In this humour Lucy had left him, when, towards the end of May, she
had gone for the first time to spend a few weeks with some relations in
London. Her cousins were kind and wealthy; and, much pleased with the
modest intelligence of their young kinswoman, they exerted themselves
to render their house agreeable to her, and to show her the innumerable
sights of the Queen of Cities. So that her stay, being urged by James,
who, thoroughly unselfish, rejoiced to fi