She was not
beautiful, hardly even pretty, small, in appearance almost insignificant,
quite penniless, a governess! He had often asked himself what it was that
had so vanquished him. She always wore a pale grey frock, with perhaps a
grey ribbon, never running into any bright form of clothing. She was
educated, very well educated; but she owned no great accomplishment. She
had not sung his heart away or ravished him with the harp. Even of her
words she was sparing, seeming to care more to listen than to speak; a
humble little thing to look at--one of whom you might say that she
regarded herself as well-placed if left in the background. Yet he had
found her out and knew her. He had recognised the treasure, and had
greatly desired to possess it. He had confessed to himself that, could
splendour and ambition be laid aside, that little thing would be all the
world to him. As he sat in court or in the House, patient from practice as
he half-listened to the ponderous speeches of advocates or politicians, he
would think of the sparkle in her eye, of the dimple in her chin, or the
lines of the mouth which could plead so eloquently, though with few words.
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