 shapes have no angles: a caryatid in marble is almost as flexible;
a Phidian goddess is not more perfect in a certain still and stately sort. They
have such features as the Dutch painters give to their madonnas: low-country
classic features, regular but round, straight but stolid; and for their depth of
expressionless calm, of passionless peace, a polar snow-field could alone offer
a type. Women of this order need no ornament, and they seldom wear any; the
smooth hair, closely braided, supplies a sufficient contrast to the smoother
cheek and brow; the dress cannot be too simple; the rounded arm and perfect neck
require neither bracelet nor chain.
    With one of these beauties I once had the honour and rapture to be perfectly
acquainted: the inert force of the deep, settled love she bore herself, was
wonderful; it could only be surpassed by her proud impotency to care for any
other living thing. Of blood, her cool veins conducted no flow; placid lymph
filled and almost obstructed her arteries.
    Such a Juno as I have described, sat full in our view - a sort of mark for
all eyes, and quite conscious that so she was, but proof to the magnetic
influence of gaze or glance: cold, rounded, blonde, and beauteous, as the white
column, capitalled with gilding, which rose at her side.
    Observing that Dr. John's attention was much drawn towards her, I entreated
him in a low voice »for the love of heaven to shield well his heart. You need
not fall in love with that lady,« I said, »because, I tell you before-hand, you
might die at her feet, and she would not love you again.«
    »Very well,« said he, »and how do you know that the spectacle of her grand
insensibility might not with me be the strongest stimulus to homage? The sting
of desperation is, I think, a wonderful irritant to my emotions: but (shrugging
his shoulders) you know nothing about these things; I'll address myself to my
mother. Mama, I'm in a dangerous way.«
    »As if that interested me!« said Mrs. Bretton.
    »Alas! the cruelty of my lot!« responded her son. »Never man had a more
unsentimental mother than mine: she never seems to think that such a calamity
can befall her as a daughter-in-law.«
    »If I don't, it is not for want of having that same calamity held over my
head: you
