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King John and the Brigand's Bride, by the Author of 'the Astrologer's Daughter'. (v. 10)
King John and the Brigand's Bride by the Author of 'the Astrologer's Daughter' - v. 10 Author:John Volume: v. 10 General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1852 Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than... more » a million books for free. Excerpt: CHAPTER V. " This fleeting scene is but a stage, Where various images appear; In different paths of youth and age, Alike the prince and peasant share." All King John's effrontery vanished for a time when he found himself opposite to an aged female, upon whose wrinkled face he was gazing with that intense curiosity which seemed to say he knew her, and yet could not recall her name. He had withdrawn his mask on first entering the room, and a pair of sunken, yet bright dark eyes, were peering intensely upon his face. The old lady was short, and rather stout, but her tiny hands and feet seemed yet to retain the beauty of yore ; if she were ratherstouter than she might have liked to be in her younger days, it was a species of comeliness which served now to prevent her appearing insignificant. The lines which were drawn on her once well-turned throat, were carefully concealed by a snowy white kerchief, terminating in a broad frill; this handkerchief was fastened in front, with a diamond pin ; her dress was of rather faded damask, but although it bore testimony of having been much worn, the bright green, of which the texture was composed, looked none the worse for being a shade less glaring than heretofore; her shoes were fastened with silver buckles, and her gray hair, neither powdered or dyed, was turned far back from her forehead; her eyes were remarkably bright, although they were far sunken in her head; her nose was perfectly aquiline, and her mouth had once, probably, been beautiful, for though the lips were now thin, and sometimes, colourless, the faultless stamp of that and each...« less