The
luxurious tranquillity of the scene; the cool fragrance of flowers and
perfumes in the atmosphere; the rapt attitude of Magdalen, absorbed over
her reading; the monotonous regularity of movement in the maid's
hand and arm, as she drew the comb smoothly through and through her
mistress's hair--all conveyed the same soothing impression of drowsy,
delicious quiet. On one side of the door were the broad daylight and the
familiar realities of life. On the other was the dream-land of Elysian
serenity--the sanctuary of unruffled repose.
Miss Garth paused on the threshold, and looked into the room in silence.
Magdalen's curious fancy for having her hair combed at all times
and seasons was among the peculiarities of her character which were
notorious to everybody in the house. It was one of her father's favorite
jokes that she reminded him, on such occasions, of a cat having her back
stroked, and that he always expected, if the combing were only continued
long enough, to hear her _purr_. Extravagant as it may seem, the
comparison was not altogether inappropriate. The girl's fervid
temperament intensified the essentially feminine pleasure that most
women feel in the passage of the comb through their hair, to a
luxury of sensation which absorbed her in enjoyment, so serenely
self-demonstrative, so drowsily deep that it did irresistibly suggest a
pet cat's enjoyment under a caressing hand.
Pages:
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89