and refinement, and her whole air and expression denoting a serene,
unruffled, affectionate happiness, yet with much authority in her
mildness--warm and open in her own family, but reserved beyond it,
and shrinking from general society.

The doctor, on the contrary, had a lank, bony figure, nearly six feet
high, and looking more so from his slightness; a face sallow, thin,
and strongly marked, an aquiline nose, highly developed forehead, and
peculiar temples, over which the hair strayed in thin curling flakes.
His eyes were light coloured, and were seldom seen without his near-
sighted spectacles, but the expressions of the Mouth were everything
--so varying, so bright, and so sweet were his smiles that showed
beautiful white teeth--moreover, his hand was particularly well made,
small and delicate; and it always turned out that no one ever
recollected that Dr. May was plain, who had heard his kindly
greeting.

The sons and daughters were divided in likeness to father and mother;
Ethel was almost an exaggeration of the doctor's peculiarities,
especially at the formed, but unsoftened age of fifteen; Norman had
his long nose, sallow complexion, and tall figure, but was much
improved by his mother's fine blue eyes, and was a very pleasant-
looking boy, though not handsome; little Tom was a thin, white,
delicate edition of his father; and Blanche contrived to combine
great likeness to him with a great deal of prettiness. Of those
that, as nurse said, favoured their mamma, Margaret was tall and
blooming, with the same calm eyes, but with the brilliance of her
father's smile; Flora had greater regularity of feature, and was fast
becoming a very pretty girl, while Mary and Harry could not boast of
much beauty, but were stout sturdy pictures of health; Harry's locks