第56章

“Thefeaturesareperfect，Elinor。”answeredWalter，“and，atthe

firstglance，theexpressionseemedalsohers。But，Icouldfancythat

theportraithaschangedcountenance，whileIhavebeenlookingatit。

Theeyesarefixedonminewithastrangelysadandanxious

expression。Nay，itisgriefandterror！IsthislikeElinor？”

“Comparethelivingfacewiththepicturedone。”saidthepainter。

Walterglancedsidelongathismistress，andstarted。Motionless

andabsorbed-fascinated，asitwere-incontemplationofWalter’s

portrait，Elinor’sfacehadassumedpreciselytheexpressionof

whichhehadjustbeencomplaining。Hadshepractisedforwhole

hoursbeforeamirror，shecouldnothavecaughtthelookso

successfully。Hadthepictureitselfbeenamirror，itcouldnot

havethrownbackherpresentaspectwithstrongerandmore

melancholytruth。Sheappearedquiteunconsciousofthedialogue

betweentheartistandherlover。

“Elinor。”exclaimedWalter，inamazement，“whatchangehascome

overyou？”

Shedidnothearhim，nordesistfromherfixedgaze，tillhe

seizedherhand，andthusattractedhernotice；then，withasudden

tremor，shelookedfromthepicturetothefaceoftheoriginal。

“Doyouseenochangeinyourportrait？”askedshe。

“Inmine？None！”repliedWalter，examiningit。“Butletmesee！

Yes；thereisaslightchange-animprovement，Ithink，inthe

picture，thoughnoneinthelikeness。Ithasalivelierexpression

thanyesterday，asifsomebrightthoughtwereflashingfromtheeyes，

andabouttobeutteredfromthelips。NowthatIhavecaughtthe

look，itbecomesverydecided。”

Whilehewasintentontheseobservations，Elinorturnedtothe

painter。Sheregardedhimwithgriefandawe，andfeltthathe

repaidherwithsympathyandcommiseration，thoughwherefore，she

couldbutvaguelyguess。

“Thatlook！”whisperedshe，andshuddered。“Howcameitthere？”

“Madam。”saidthepainter，sadly，takingherhand，andleading

herapart，“inboththesepictures，IhavepaintedwhatIsaw。The

artist-thetrueartist-mustlookbeneaththeexterior。Itishis

gift-hisproudest，butoftenamelancholyone-toseetheinmost

soul，and，byapowerindefinableeventohimself，tomakeitglow

ordarkenuponthecanvas，inglancesthatexpressthethoughtand

sentimentofyears。WouldthatImightconvincemyselfoferrorinthe

presentinstance！”

Theyhadnowapproachedthetable，onwhichwereheadsinchalk，

handsalmostasexpressiveasordinaryfaces，iviedchurchtowers，

thatchedcottages，oldthunder-strickentrees，Orientalandantique

costume，andallsuchpicturesquevagariesofanartist’sidle

moments。Turningthemover，withseemingcarelessness，acrayonsketch

oftwofigureswasdisclosed。

“IfIhavefailed。”continuedhe，“ifyourheartdoesnotsee

itselfreflectedinyourownportrait-ifyouhavenosecretcause

totrustmydelineationoftheother-itisnotyettoolateto

alterthem。Imightchangetheactionofthesefigurestoo。But

woulditinfluencetheevent？”

Hedirectedhernoticetothesketch。AthrillranthroughElinor’s

frame；ashriekwasuponherlips；butshestifledit，withthe

self-commandthatbecomeshabitualtoallwhohidethoughtsoffear

andanguishwithintheirbosoms。Turningfromthetable，sheperceived

thatWalterhadadvancednearenoughtohaveseenthesketch，though

shecouldnotdeterminewhetherithadcaughthiseye。

“Wewillnothavethepicturesaltered。”saidshe，hastily。“If

mineissad，Ishallbutlookthegayerforthecontrast。”

“Beitso。”answeredthepainter，bowing。“Mayyourgriefsbe

suchfancifulonesthatonlyyourpicturemaymournforthem！Foryour

joys-maytheybetrueanddeep，andpaintthemselvesuponthislovely

facetillitquitebeliemyart！”

AfterthemarriageofWalterandElinor，thepicturesformedthe

twomostsplendidornamentsoftheirabode。Theyhungsidebyside，

separatedbyanarrowpanel，appearingtoeye