Запретный лес
III. Guests in Calidon Tower
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Thegirlwasdressedinagownofbluevelvet,theskirtsofwhichweredrawnbackinfronttoshowanembroideredpetticoatofstiffyellowsatin.Itwascutlowattheneckandshoulders,androundthetopranabroadedgingoffinelace.Herdarkhairwascaughtupinaknotbehind,butallowedtofallincurlsoneachsideofherface.Thatface,toDavid’sstartledeyes,waslikenonethathehadeverseenbefore,certainlylikenoneoftheEdinburghburghergirlswhomhehadobservedintheirfineryontheSaturdaycauseway.Itwassmallanddelicatelyfeatured,thecheeksflushedwithyouthandhealth,theeyesdark,brilliant,andmirthful.Atanothertimehewouldhavebeenshockedatherdress,forthefashionofalowbodicehadnotspreadmuchbeyondtheCourt,butnowhedidnottakenoteofwhatshewore.Hewasgazingmoonstruckuponarevelation.
Shesmiledonhim--shesmiledonthemall.Shecurtsiedlightlytoheruncle,toRollo,andtothedarkman.Butshedidnotcurtsytotheminister.Forsuddenly,asshelookedatthegroom,hercomposuredesertedher.Hermouthmovedasifshewouldhavespoken,andthenshecheckedherself,forDavidsawthatthegroomhadputhisfingertohislips.Insteadshecurtsiedalmosttotheground,areverencefarmoredeepthanshehadaccordedtotheothers,andwhenhegaveherhishandshebentherheadasifherimpulsewastokissit.
AllthisDavidsawwithaconfusedvision.Hehadscarcelyspokentenwordsinhislifetoawomanoutsidehisownkin,andthisbrightapparitionloosenedhiskneeswithnervousness.Hestammeredhisfarewells.
