CHAPTER XXIX. HAS AN INTRODUCTORY ACCOUNT OF THE INMATES OF THE HOUSE, TO WHICH OLIVER RESORTED

Inahandsomeroom:thoughitsfurniturehadrathertheairofold-fashionedcomfort,thanofmodernelegance:theresattwoladiesatawell-spreadbreakfast-table.Mr.Giles,dressedwithscrupulouscareinafullsuitofblack,wasinattendanceuponthem.Hehadtakenhisstationsomehalf-waybetweentheside-boardandthebreakfast-tableand,withhisbodydrawnuptoitsfullheight,hisheadthrownback,andinclinedthemeresttrifleononeside,hisleftlegadvanced,andhisrighthandthrustintohiswaist-coat,whilehislefthungdownbyhisside,graspingawaiter,lookedlikeonewholabouredunderaveryagreeablesenseofhisownmeritsandimportance. Ofthetwoladies,onewaswelladvancedinyearsbutthehigh-backedoakenchairinwhichshesat,wasnotmoreuprightthanshe.Dressedwiththeutmostnicetyandprecision,inaquaintmixtureofby-gonecostume,withsomeslightconcessionstotheprevailingtaste,whichratherservedtopointtheoldstylepleasantlythantoimpairitseffect,shesat,inastatelymanner,withherhandsfoldedonthetablebeforeher.Hereyes(andagehaddimmedbutlittleoftheirbrightness)wereattentivelyuponheryoungcompanion. Theyoungerladywasinthelovelybloomandspring-timeofwomanhoodatthatage,when,ifeverangelsbeforGod’sgoodpurposesenthronedinmortalforms,theymaybe,withoutimpiety,supposedtoabideinsuchashers. Shewasnotpastseventeen.Castinsoslightandexquisiteamouldsomildandgentlesopureandbeautifulthatearthseemednotherelement,noritsroughcreaturesherfitcompanions.Theveryintelligencethatshoneinherdeepblueeye,andwasstampeduponhernoblehead,seemedscarcelyofherage,oroftheworldandyetthechangingexpressionofsweetnessandgoodhumour,thethousandlightsthatplayedabouttheface,andleftnoshadowthereaboveall,thesmile,thecheerful,hap