Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 1.djvu/139

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
OF WILDFELL HALL.
127

sea-mews that sported above, their white wings glittering in the sunshine: only one or two vessels were visible; and those were far away.

I looked at my companion to see what she thought of this glorious scene. She said nothing: but she stood still, and fixed her eyes upon it with a gaze that assured me she was not disappointed. She had very fine eyes by the bye—I don't know whether I've told you before, but they were full of soul, large, clear, and nearly black—not brown, but very dark grey. A cool, reviving breeze, blew from the sea—soft, pure, salubrious: it waved her drooping ringlets, and imparted a livelier colour to her usually too pallid lip and cheek. She felt its exhilarating influence, and so did I—I felt it tingling through my frame, but dared not give way to it while she remained so quiet. There was an aspect of subdued exhilaration in her face, that kindled into almost a smile of exalted, glad intelligence as her eye met mine. Never had she looked so lovely: never had my