When he entered
the room, he saw a young woman seated with her back to him, penning
a copy, whilst the children jumped and rioted about her in their
usual fashion. The late governess had been a mature person of
features rather serviceable than handsome; that her successor was of
a different type appeared sufficiently from the fair round head, the
gracefully handed neck, the perfect shoulders, the slight, beautiful
form. Waymark took his place and waited with some curiosity till she
moved. When she did so, and, rising, suddenly became aware of his
presence, there was a little start on both sides; Miss Enderby--so
Waymark soon heard her called by the pupils--had not been aware,
owing to the noise, of a stranger's entrance, and Waymark on his
side was so struck with the face presented to him. He had expected,
at the most, a pretty girl of the commonplace kind: he saw a
countenance in which refinement was as conspicuous as beauty. She
was probably not more than eighteen or nineteen. In speaking with
the children she rarely if ever smiled, but exhibited a gentle
forbearance which had something touching in it; it was almost as
though she appealed for gentleness in return, and feared a harsh
word or look.
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