She bloomed in the full physical maturity of twenty
years or more--bloomed naturally and irresistibly, in right of her
matchless health and strength. Here, in truth, lay the mainspring of
this strangely-constituted organization. Her headlong course down the
house stairs; the brisk activity of all her movements; the incessant
sparkle of expression in her face; the enticing gayety which took the
hearts of the quietest people by storm--even the reckless delight in
bright colors which showed itself in her brilliantly-striped morning
dress, in her fluttering ribbons, in the large scarlet rosettes on her
smart little shoes--all sprang alike from the same source; from the
overflowing physical health which strengthened every muscle, braced
every nerve, and set the warm young blood tingling through her veins,
like the blood of a growing child.
On her entry into the breakfast-room, she was saluted with the customary
remonstrance which her flighty disregard of all punctuality habitually
provoked from the long-suffering household authorities. In Miss Garth's
favorite phrase, "Magdalen was born with all the senses--except a sense
of order."
Magdalen! It was a strange name to have given her? Strange, indeed;
and yet, chosen under no extraordinary circumstances.
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