His appearance had at first elicited some laughing though not ill-natured remarks from the merry Shirley. It was boyish. His features were plain and slight, his hair sandy, his stature insignificant. But she soon checked her sarcasm on this point; she would even fire up if any one else made uncomplimentary allusion thereto. He had "a pleasing countenance," she affirmed; "and there was that in his heart which was better than three Roman noses, than the locks of Absalom or the proportions of Saul." A spare and rare shaft she still reserved for his unfortunate poetic propensity; but even here she would tolerate no irony save her own.
In short, matters had reached a point which seemed fully to warrant an observation made about this time by Mr. Yorke to the tutor, Louis.

His appearance, it is true, was boyish. His features were plain and slight, his stature insignificant. But Shirley soon checked her merriment on this point; she would even fire up if anyone was uncomplimentary about him. He had "a pleasing countenance," she affirmed; "and a good heart." She still reserved a rare shaft of sarcasm for his unfortunate poetry; but even here she would tolerate no irony except her own.
In short, matters had reached a point which seemed fully to warrant an observation made by Mr. Yorke to the tutor, Louis.
