The judge was very much
struck with her person and manner, and told me the day after his
first meeting with her that she came nearer to his ideal of a lady
than any woman he had ever met; and as for the daughter she seemed
more like a picture he had once seen than a piece of real flesh and
blood. I smiled at the Judge's enthusiasm, but did not wonder at the
impression he had received.
Other characters in our story now claim attention, and we must turn
to them. After Henry Wallingford had gained the mastery over
himself:--the struggle was wild, but brief--he resumed his office
duties as usual, and few noticed any change in him, except that he
withdrew even more than ever into himself. I met him occasionally,
and observed him closely. In my eyes there was a marked difference
in the aspect of his face. It had an expression of patient suffering
at times--and again I saw in it a most touching sadness.
The dashing nephew of Judge Bigelow offered himself to Squire
Floyd's daughter in about a week after her rejection of
Wallingford's suit, and was accepted. I became immediately cognizant
of the fact through my wife, who had the news from Delia's aunt,
Mrs.
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