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"Yes"
I drew a breath of relief There was nothing in the Judge's nificance to his mention of Helen Ilady"
He glanced at the letters on his desk and methodically cut open an envelope Then he dropped the paper knife, raising his bushy brows, a gesture that indicates his enial humour, as he continued with more than usual deliberateness:-"You knew her, no doubt, as an intelligent student; you may be surprised to learn that she has developed extraordinary--the word is not too strong--extraordinary beauty"
"Always a lovely girl," I muttered
"Froe leaned back in his big chair, see to commit himself to an utterance; "but her attractions were rather those of mind and heart, I should have said, than of personal appearance The change to which I have alluded is irl into the evanescent beauty of early wo that has ever co to be an elderly man, Burke, and I have been a respectful adirl like Miss Winship; she is phenomenal"
"You--you think so?"
It was true, then!
"I have ceased to think; I ah not in the older sense of the word, is still no doubt exercised by young ladies, and there are certain improvement commissions that undertake, for a suitable consideration, the--ah--redecoration of feminine architecture, or even the partial restoration of human antiques But this is a different matter"
"I saw Miss Winship yesterday"
"You will not then accuse me of overstatement?"
"She is indeed beautiful"
The restraint hich I spoke evidently puzzled him He continued to look atman I should have expected more enthusiasm At times I suspect that the youth of today are less susceptible than were those of twenty-five years ago But this affair has perhaps occupied ht, because Helen is in aher stay in the East, and because of e, I had supposed you aware of an engagement between Helen and myself"
"Ah, that accounts for much To you, no doubt, she is little altered Your eyes have seen the budding of that beauty which but now becomes visible to those less partial I believe Mrs Baker did hint at so between you, but it had escaped my mind"