sa；　was　taller　and　more　elegant　in　figure；　with　a　very　pretty　face；　of　that　order　the　French　term　minois　chiffoné：　both　sisters　were　fair　as　lilies。

Lady　Lynn　was　a　large　and　stout　personage　of　about　forty；　very　erect；　very　haughty…looking；　richly　dressed　in　a　satin　robe　of　changeful　sheen：　her　dark　hair　shone　glossily　under　the　shade　of　an　azure　plume；　and　within　the　circlet　of　a　band　of　gems。

Mrs。　Colonel　Dent　was　less　showy；　but；　I　thought；　more　lady…like。　She　had　a　slight　figure；　a　pale；　gentle　face；　and　fair　hair。　Her　black　satin　dress；　her　scarf　of　rich　foreign　lace；　and　her　pearl　ornaments；　pleased　me　better　than　the　rainbow　radiance　of　the　titled　dame。

But　the　three　most　distinguished—partly；　perhaps；　because　the　tallest　figures　of　the　band—were　the　Dowager　Lady　Ingram　and　her　daughters；　Blanche　and　Mary。　They　were　all　three　of　the　loftiest　stature　of　women。　The　Dowager　might　be　between　forty　and　fifty：　her　shape　was　still　fine；　her　hair　（by　candle…light　at　least）　still　black；　her　teeth；　too；　were　still　apparently　perfect。　Most　people　would　have　termed　her　a　splendid　woman　of　her　age：　and　so　she　was；　no　doubt；　physically　speaking；　but　then　there　was　an　expression　of　almost　insupportable　haughtiness　in　her　bearing　and　countenance。　She　had　Roman　features　and　a　double　chin；　disappearing　into　a　throat　like　a　pillar：　these　features　appeared　to　me　not　only　inflated　and　darkened；　but　even　furrowed　with　pride；　and　the　chin　was　sustained　by　the　same　princi