And then he returned to
his conversation with Maggie. That had been real comfort to him. What an
advantage it would be to Erminia to have such a girl for a friend and
companion!
It was rather strange that, having this thought, and having been struck, as
I said, with Maggie's appearance while she stood in the door-way (and I may
add that this impression of her unobtrusive beauty had been deepened by
several succeeding interviews), he should reply as he did to Erminia's
remark, on first seeing Maggie after her return from France.
"How lovely Maggie is growing! Why, I had no idea she would ever turn out
pretty. Sweet-looking she always was; but now her style of beauty makes her
positively distinguished. Frank! speak! is not she beautiful?"
"Do you think so?" answered he, with a kind of lazy indifference,
exceedingly gratifying to his father, who was listening with some eagerness
to his answer. That day, after dinner, Mr. Buxton began to ask his opinion
of Erminia's appearance.
Frank answered at once:
"She is a dazzling little creature. Her complexion looks as if it were made
of cherries and milk; and, it must be owned, the little lady has studied
the art of dress to some purpose in Paris."
Mr. Buxton was nearer happiness at this reply than he had ever been
since his wife's death; for the only way he could devise to satisfy his
reproachful conscience towards his neglected and unhappy sister, was to
plan a marriage between his son and her child.
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