During the day, a thousand new inquiries had been
made concerning the bride, whose beauty and mien were altogether so
superior to what might have been expected in one who could consent to act
the part she did on so public an occasion, and whose modest bearing was in
such singular contradiction to her present situation. None knew, however,
or, if it were known, no one chose to reveal, her history; and, as
curiosity had been so keenly whetted by mystery, the rush of the multitude
was merely a proof of the power which expectation, aided by the thousand
surmises of rumor, can gain over the minds of the idle.
Whatever might have been the character of the conjectures made at the
expense of poor Christine--and they were wanting in neither variety nor
malice--most were compelled to agree in commending the diffidence of her
air, and the gentle sweetness of her mild and peculiar beauty. Some,
indeed, affected to see artifice in the former, which was pronounced to be
far too excellent, or too much overdone, for nature. The usual amount of
common-place remarks were made, too, on the lucky diversity that was to be
found in tastes, and on the happy necessity there existed of all being
able to find the means to please themselves.
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