Мхи старой усадьбы

           NomatterwhatFeathertopsaid,hiswordsfounddepthandreverberationinherear;nomatterwhathedid,hisactionwasheroictohereye.AndbythistimeitistobesupposedtherewasablushonPolly’scheek,atendersmileabouthermouthandaliquidsoftnessinherglance;whilethestarkeptcoruscatingonFeathertop’sbreast,andthelittledemonscareeredwithmorefranticmerrimentthaneveraboutthecircumferenceofhispipebowl.OprettyPollyGookin,whyshouldtheseimpsrejoicesomadlythatasillymaiden’sheartwasabouttobegiventoashadow!Isitsounusualamisfortune,sorareatriumph?

           ByandbyFeathertoppaused,andthrowinghimselfintoanimposingattitude,seemedtosummonthefairgirltosurveyhisfigureandresisthimlongerifshecould.Hisstar,hisembroidery,hisbucklesglowedatthatinstantwithunutterablesplendor;thepicturesquehuesofhisattiretookaricherdepthofcoloring;therewasagleamandpolishoverhiswholepresencebetokeningtheperfectwitcheryofwell-orderedmanners.Themaidenraisedhereyesandsufferedthemtolingeruponhercompanionwithabashfulandadmiringgaze.Then,asifdesirousofjudgingwhatvalueherownsimplecomelinessmighthavesidebysidewithsomuchbrilliancy,shecastaglancetowardsthefull-lengthlooking-glassinfrontofwhichtheyhappenedtobestanding.Itwasoneofthetruestplatesintheworldandincapableofflattery.