In a kitchen of moderate size, flagged with slate¹, humble² in its appointments, yet looking scarcely that of a farmhouse—for there were utensils³ about it indicating necessities more artificial than usually grow upon a farm—with the corner of a white deal table between them, sat two young people evidently different in rank, and meeting upon no level of friendship. The young woman held in her hand a paper, which seemed the subject of their conversation. She was about four- or five-and-twenty, well grown and not ungraceful, with dark hair, dark hazel eyes, and rather large, handsome features, full of intelligence, but a little hard, and not a little regnant—as such features must be, except after prolonged influence of a heart potent⁴ in self-subjugation. As to her social expression, it was a mingling⁵ of the gentlewoman of education, and the farmer's daughter supreme⁶ over the household and its share in the labor⁷ of production.

 

As to the young man, it would have required a deeper-seeing eye than falls to the lot of most observers, not to take him for a weaker nature than the young woman; and the deference⁸ he showed her as the superior, would have enhanced the difficulty of a true judgment⁹. He was tall and thin, but plainly in fine health; had a good forehead, and a clear hazel eye, not overlarge or prominent, but full of light; a firm mouth, with a curious smile; a sun-burned complexion¹⁰; and a habit when perplexed

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