She straightened herself, and looked around. In a further corner,
partly concealed by a Cairo screen, stood another pile. Jane went to
them.
Almost immediately she found the two she wanted; larger than the
rest, and distinguishable at a glance by the soft black gown of the
central figure.
Without giving them more than a passing look, she carried them over
to the western window, and placed them in a good light. Then she
drew up the chair in which she had been sitting; took the little
brass bear in her left hand, as a talisman to help her through what
lay before her; turned the second picture with its face to the
easel; and sat down to the quiet contemplation of the first.
The noble figure of a woman, nobly painted, was the first impression
which leapt from eye to brain. Yes, nobility came first, in stately
pose, in uplifted brow, in breadth of dignity. Then--as you marked
the grandly massive figure, too well-proportioned to be cumbersome,
but large and full, and amply developed; the length of limb; the
firmly planted feet; the large capable hands,--you realised the
second impression conveyed by the picture, to be strength;--strength
to do; strength to be; strength to continue.
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