Ere ascending to his chamber he paid a secret visit to the dining-room, a still, cold, stately apartment, seldom used, for the family customarily dined in the back parlour. He stood before the mantelpiece, and lifted his candle to two pictures hung above--female heads: one, a type of serene beauty, happy and innocent; the other, more lovely, but forlorn and desperate.

Before going to his chamber he paid a secret visit to the dining-room: a still, cold apartment, seldom used. He stood before the mantelpiece, and lifted his candle to two pictures hung above - two female heads: one, a type of serene beauty, happy and innocent; the other, more lovely, but forlorn and desperate.
