 - wholesome
truths, too.
    I knew another of these seraphs - the prettiest, or, at any rate, the least
demure and hypocritical-looking of the lot: she was seated by the daughter of an
English peer, also an honest, though haughty-looking girl; both had entered in
the suite of the British embassy. She (i.e. my acquaintance) had a slight pliant
figure, not at all like the forms of the foreign damsels; her hair, too, was not
close-braided, like a shell or a skull-cap of satin; it looked like hair, and
waved from her head, long, curled, and flowing. She chatted away volubly, and
seemed full of a light-headed sort of satisfaction with herself and her
position. I did not look at Dr. Bretton; but I knew that he, too, saw Ginevra
Fanshawe: he had become so quiet, he answered so briefly his mother's remarks,
he so often suppressed a sigh. Why should he sigh? He had confessed a taste for
the pursuit of love under difficulties; here was full gratification for that
taste. His lady-love beamed upon him from a sphere above his own: he could not
come near her; he was not certain that he could win from her a look. I watched
to see if she would so far favour him. Our seat was not far from the crimson
benches; we must inevitably be seen thence, by eyes so quick and roving as Miss
Fanshawe's, and very soon those optics of hers were upon us: at least, upon Dr.
and Mrs. Bretton. I kept rather in the shade and out of sight, not wishing to be
immediately recognized: she looked quite steadily at Dr. John, and then she
raised a glass to examine his mother; a minute or two afterwards she laughingly
whispered her neighbour; upon the performance commencing, her rambling attention
was attracted to the platform.
    On the concert I need not dwell; the reader would not care to have my
impressions thereanent: and, indeed, it would not be worth while to record them,
as they were the impressions of an ignorance crasse. The young ladies of the
Conservatoire, being very much frightened, made rather a tremulous exhibition on
the two grand pianos. M. Josef Emanuel stood by them while they played; but he
had not the tact or influence of his kinsman, who, under similar circumstances,
would certainly have compelled pupils of his to demean themselves with heroism
and self-possession. M. Paul would have
