But the girl approaching him was unaware of his trepidation, being
perhaps somewhat preoccupied with her own. She saw only that he was
pale, and that his eyes were darkly circled. But here he was
advantaged with her, for the finest touch to his good looks was given
by this toning down; neither pallor nor dark circles detracting from
them, but rather adding to them a melancholy favour of distinction.
George had retained his mourning, a tribute completed down to the
final details of black gloves and a polished ebony cane (which he
would have been pained to name otherwise than as a "walking-stick")
and in the aura of this sombre elegance his straight figure and drawn
face were not without a tristful and appealing dignity.
In everything outward he was cause enough for a girl's cheek to flush,
her heart to beat faster, and her eyes to warm with the soft light
that came into Lucy's now, whether she would or no. If his spirit had
been what his looks proclaimed it, she would have rejoiced to let the
light glow forth which now shone in spite of her.
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