Poor Rose, how her heart beat at every
word and look, and how hard she strove to seem perfectly at her ease
and unconscious! Walter was in a fume of anxiety and vexation, and
could hardly control himself so far as to speak civilly to either of
the guests, so that he was no less a cause of fear to his mother and
sister than the children, who were unconscious how much depended on
discretion.
Young Sylvester Enderby was a fine young man of eighteen, very good-
natured, and not at all like a Puritan in appearance or manner. He
had hardly yet begun to think for himself, and was merely obeying his
father in joining the army with him, without questioning whether it
was the right cause or not. He was a kind elder brother at home, and
here he was ready to be pleased with the children of the house.
Lucy was a high-spirited talkative child, very little used to seeing
strangers, and perhaps hardly reined in enough, for her poor mother's
weak health had interfered with strict discipline; and as this
evening Walter and Rose were both grave and serious under their
anxieties, Lucy was less restrained even than usual.
She was a pretty creature, with bright blue eyes, and an arch
expression, all the droller under her prim round cap; and Sylvester
was a good deal amused with her pert bold little nods and airs.
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