Reasoning—like
a woman, to whom external appearance is scarcely in
any circumstance a matter
of unimportance, and like a beauty who
has confidence in her
own charms.—Kenilworth.
Her affection and sympathy dictated at once the kindest course. Without attempting to control the torrent of grief in its full current, she gently sat her down beside the mourner.... She waited a more composed moment to offer her little stock of consolation in deep silence and stillness.—The Betrothed.
Her kindness and her worth
to spy
You need but gaze on Ellen’s
eye;
Not Katrine in her mirror
blue,
Gives back the shaggy banks
more true,
Than every free-born glance
confess’d
The guileless movements of
her breast;
Whether joy danced in her
dark eye,
Or woe or pity claim’d
a sigh,
Or filial love was glowing
there,
Or meek devotion pour’d
a prayer.
Or hate of injury call’d
forth
The indignant spirit of the
North.
One only passion unreveal’d,
With maiden pride, the maid
conceal’d,
Yet no less purely felt the
flame—
O need I tell that passion’s
name?
The Lady of the Lake, Canto 1.
She is fairer in feature than becometh a man of my order to speak of; and she has withal a breathing of her father’s lofty spirit. The look and the word of such a lady will give a man double strength in the hour of need.—The Betrothed.
Her smile, her speech, with
winning sway,
Wiled the old harper’s
mood away.
With such a look as hermits
throw
When angels stoop to soothe
their woe,
He gazed, till fond regret
and pride
Thrill’d to a tear.
The Lady of the Lake, Canto 2.
All her soul is in her eye,
Yet doubts she still to tender free
The wonted words of courtesy.
* * * * *
Go to her now—be bold of cheer,
While her soul floats ’twixt hope and fear:
It is the very change of tide,
When best the female heart is tried—
Pride, prejudice ...
Are in the current swept to sea.
Rokeby, Canto 2.
She was highly accomplished;
yet she had not learned to substitute
the gloss of politeness
for the reality of feeling.—Waverley.
A deep-thinking and impassioned woman, ready to make exertions alike, and sacrifices, with all that vain devotion to a favorite object of affection, which is often so basely rewarded.—The Fortunes of Nigel.
The spotless virgin fears not the raging lion.—The Talisman.