He was engaged in reading letters and papers just arrived
from France by the frigate, rapidly extracting their contents and
pencilling on their margins memos, for further reference to his
clerks.
The only other occupant of the room was a very elderly lady, in a
black gown of rigid Huguenot fashion. A close white cap, tied under
her chin, set off to the worst advantage her sharp, yet kindly,
features. Not an end of ribbon or edge of lace could be seen to
point to one hair-breadth of indulgence in the vanities of the world
by this strict old Puritan, who, under this unpromising exterior,
possessed the kindliest heart in Christendom. Her dress, if of
rigid severity, was of saintly purity, and almost pained the eye
with its precision and neatness. So fond are we of some freedom
from over-much care as from over-much righteousness, that a stray
tress, a loose ribbon, a little rent even, will relieve the eye and
hold it with a subtile charm. Under the snow white hair of Dame
Rochelle--for she it was, the worthy old housekeeper and ancient
governess of the House of Philibert--you saw a kind, intelligent
face.
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