Lilias, Chapters XI-XV [pp. 257-269]

Lilias.
on, he mounted himn, and without a word,
rode off. Isham came running after hilm:
" Ir. Torrey! Oh, marce Torrey! Mars ter'11 be homue to-rectly, sir. Won't you
wait till he come?"
But Torrey paid no heed to his call.
Laboring under a sort of stupor, hardly
knowing what he did, he hurried home ward.
CHAPTER XII.
A GLIMPSE AT THE LKNDONS.
Granthill-Mr. Landon's residencewas situated at a distance of some twenty
or twenty-five miles from Burnot's, in a
south-westerly direction, near upon the
same stream which Torrey, in going home,
crossed at "Crooked Ford." The house
was a large framed building, already
grey with age; wvith large arched doors
and windows. It was surrounded by
a beautiful yard, shaded by huge old
locusts, (Robinia-pse-td-acacia,) with a
long avenue of tall Lombardy poplars
leading up to it. From this yard there
was a fine view up and down the lowlands
of the stream. About the whole establishment there was an air of venerableness-something of grandeur. It was
evidently the'"Great House" of the
country side; the home of one of those
landed proprietors of the old time, who
counted his acres by the thousand.,
MIr. Landon was a portly, affable gentleman; whose countenance, while it indicated a high degree of intelligence, bespoke at the same time a love of good
cheer, and a fund of good humor. He
was an Active, useful, and influential
citizen. His wife was a prim lady"every inch a lady"-who had her fixed
rules and regulations by which she governed her famiily; making her children
'-toe the mark,'" it was said, in matters
of deportment, habit, etc. Edward Landon, her son, while off at college, would
sooner have dared to send a letter with a
misspelt word, or a blotted page, to the
Chief Justice, or Secretary of State,
than to his mother. She was the embodiment, the very sublimation of aristocratic gentility. A carpenter, who was
once making some repairs about the
house, one day had the effrontery to dip a
draught from the vessel in which a ser vant brought water for the use of the
family. Mrs. Landon saw him. She
haughtily ordered the servant to "throw
out that water, and scour the pail well!"
And yet she was a devoted mnother, an
agreeable companion, a kind mistress,
a friendly neighbor, and very charitably
-disposed toward all who "kept themselves in their proper places." Her two
eldest daughters were married. Her son
Edward, and her youngest daughter, Miss
Helen Landon, were at home.
In the sitting room at Granthill, a few
days after the occurrence of the events
which we have related in connection with
Clayton Torrey, Mrs. Landon was seated
with Miss Helen. Mrs. Landon, in her
every-day dress, was the impersonation
of plain neatness. But her white capso snowy white!-with its single frill, and
her robe or morning-gown of white cloth,
with a small blue stripe, was not unbecoming to her; and she looked as much
"the lady" thus attired, as when dressed
in her robes of state. Her face was a
fine one. Her brow was high, her mouth
remarkably expressive, and her keen blue
eyes had lost none of their brightness.
Her form inclined to the stately, and
there was something very impressive in
her appearance. No one but her husband
ever dared to take a liberty with her; but
she yielded to all his caprices with an
easy grace which was truly fascinating.
There was a peculiar loveliness in the
smile with which she did so.
On the present occasion she was busily
engaged in hemming a handkerchief.
Among her other qualities she was very
industrious. She held it to be a positive
duty that every one should have some
employment.
Miss Helen Landon, a young lady of
eighteen or thereabout, was arranging
some music for the spinet. She could
not, perhaps, be called beautiful, but she
was a well formed. and a very pretty
young lady. She had a profusion of soft,
silken, yellow hair, which was combed
back and fastened behind with a slide.
She had a very fair skin: ripe, rosy lips
1856.]
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