Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: 34 CHAPTER III. THE DBAWING UP OP THE CURTAIN. Scarcely hope hath framed for me What the future years may be. Whittier. fTlIME, three P.m., on a Spring afternoon. -- Scene, the drawing-room in Mrs. Evans's house. Dramatis persona;, three of Mrs. Evans's younger sons, and Alice, Kate, and Muriel. Enthroned in an arm-chair by the fireside sat Mrs. Evans, for the April winds were chilly. The young people were not drinking tea and gossiping. Kettle-drums were unknown in those days as an excuse for this said gossiping. People took to ithonestly, without any pretext of being obliged to imbibe an infusion of hot water and sloe-leaves during the dusk hour before dinner. The party were grouped about the room, discussing the ceremonies of the morning at which the young Evans (Alice excepted) and Kate had been present. Mrs. Evans was smiling blandly; she always did, she had a stereotyped smile about the mouth, intended to express perfect peace of mind. Combined with this was a look of calm superiority and pity, as she listened to the chatter around her, as who should say, " Unthinking children ! May you learn, like me, to despise and distrust all earthly joys, however pure and innocent! Marriage is but the gate of widowhood, love leads to sorrow, and happiness is a delusion and a snare !" A gracious lady and of a personable presence was Mrs. Evans; she was tall and slight, the folds of her rich silk dress fellin soft lines about her, and the widow's cap rested lightly on her silver hair. Her pale complexion, her aquiline features, and the composure of her face, gave her a decidedly high-bred look. At first it was a tout-ensemble that struck and pleased all who came in contact with her; but the cold steely blue of her half-closed eyes, the long upper lip, the narrow m...