He took
it up, and I watched the expression of his handsome
countenance with the anxiety of a lover who wishes that
all should think his mistress beautiful as he does himself.
It betrayed a very indefinite sort of admiration; and
yet it struck me there was an eagerness in his dilating
eye that contrasted strongly with the calm and unconcern
of his other features. At length I asked him, laughingly,
what he thought of my Cornish cousin. He replied, cautiously
enough, that since it was the likeness of a cousin, and
he dwelt emphatically on the word, he could not fail to
admire it. Candour, however, compelled him to admit, that
had I not declared the original to be one so closely
connected with me, he should have said the talent of so
perfect an artist might have been better employed.
Whatever, however, his opinion of the lady might be,
there could be no question that the painting was exquisite;
yet, he confessed, he could not but be struck with the
singularity of the fact of a Cornish girl appearing in
the full costume of a female Highlander. This, I replied,
was mere matter of fancy and association, arising from
my having been so much latterly in the habit of seeing
that dress principally worn.
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