They pressed hands at parting, firmly and briefly, not for the ordinary dactylology of lovers, but in sign of the treaty of amity.

She soon learnt that she had tied herself to her costly household.

CHAPTER XXVIII

Dialogue round the subject of A portrait, with some indications of the task for Diana

An enamoured Egeria who is not a princess in her worldly state nor a goddess by origin has to play one of those parts which strain the woman’s faculties past naturalness.  She must never expose her feelings to her lover; she must make her counsel weighty—­otherwise she is little his nymph of the pure wells, and what she soon may be, the world will say.  She has also, most imperatively, to dazzle him without the betrayal of artifice, where simple spontaneousness is beyond conjuring.  But feelings that are constrained becloud the judgement besides arresting the fine jet of delivery wherewith the mastered lover is taught through his ears to think himself prompted, and submit to be controlled, by a creature super-feminine.  She must make her counsel so weighty in poignant praises as to repress impulses that would rouse her own; and her betraying impulsiveness was a subject of reflection to Diana after she had given Percy Dacier, metaphorically, the key of her house.  Only as true Egeria could she receive him.  She was therefore grateful, she thanked and venerated this noblest of lovers for his not pressing to the word of love, and so strengthening her to point his mind, freshen his moral energies and inspirit him.  His chivalrous acceptance of the conditions of their renewed intimacy was a radiant knightliness to Diana, elevating her with a living image for worship:—­he so near once to being the absolute lord of her destinies!  How to reward him, was her sole dangerous thought.  She prayed and strove that she might give him of her best, to practically help him; and she had reason to suppose she could do it, from the visible effect of her phrases.  He glistened in repeating them; he had fallen into the habit; before witnesses too; in the presence of Miss Paynham, who had taken earnestly to the art of painting, and obtained her dear Mrs. Warwick’s promise of a few sittings for the sketch of a portrait, near the close of the season.  ‘A very daring thing to attempt,’ Miss Paynham said, when he was comparing her first outlines and the beautiful breathing features.  ’Even if one gets the face, the lips will seem speechless, to those who know her.’

‘If they have no recollection,’ said Dacier.

’I mean, the endeavour should be to represent them at the moment of speaking.’

‘Put it into the eyes.’  He looked at the eyes.

She looked at the mouth.  ‘But it is the mouth, more than the eyes.’

He looked at the face.  ’Where there is character, you have only to study it to be sure of a likeness.’