But the stranger
did not keep her long in suspense; while she stood gazing at him,
as if fascinated, he turned round, stepped forward, took off his
cap, made her a courtly bow, and then straightening himself up,
prepared, with great coolness, to scrutinize and be scrutinized.
Well might they look at each other; for the two faces were
perfectly the same, and each one saw himself and herself as
others saw them. There was the same coal-black, curling hair;
the same lustrous dark eyes; the same clear, colorless
complexion, the same delicate, perfect features; nothing was
different but the costume and the expression. That latter was
essentially different, for the young lady's betrayed amazement,
terror, doubt, and delight all at once; while the young
gentleman's was a grand, careless surprise, mixed with just a
dash of curiosity.
He was the first to speak; and after they had stared at each
other for the space of five minutes, he described a graceful
sweep with his hand, and held forth in the following strain
"I greatly fear, fair Leoline, that I have startled you by my
sudden and surprising entrance; and if I have been the cause of a
moment's alarm to one so perfectly beautiful, I shall hate myself
for ever after.
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