Theviewwassuchasurprise，andsuchachangetome，aftermywearyLondonexperienceofbrickandmortarlandscape，thatIseemedtoburstintoanewlifeandanewsetofthoughtsthemomentIlookedatit。A
confusedsensationofhavingsuddenlylostmyfamiliaritywiththepast，withoutacquiringanyadditionalclearnessofideainreferencetothepresentorthefuture，tookpossessionofmymind。Circumstancesthatwerebutafewdaysoldfadedbackinmymemory，asiftheyhadhappenedmonthsandmonthssince。Pesca’squaintannouncementofthemeansbywhichhehadprocuredmemypresentemployment；thefarewelleveningIhadpassedwithmymotherandsister；evenmymysteriousadventureonthewayhomefromHampstead——hadallbecomelikeeventswhichmighthaveoccurredatsomeformerepochofmyexistence。Althoughthewomaninwhitewasstillinmymind，theimageofherseemedtohavegrowndullandfaintalready。
Alittlebeforenineo’clock，Idescendedtotheground-floorofthehouse。Thesolemnman-servantofthenightbeforemetmewanderingamongthepassages，andcompassionatelyshowedmethewaytothebreakfast-room。
Myfirstglanceroundme，asthemanopenedthedoor，disclosedawell-furnishedbreakfast-table，standinginthemiddleofalongroom，withmanywindowsinit。Ilookedfromthetabletothewindowfarthestfromme，andsawaladystandingatit，withherbackturnedtowardsme。Theinstantmyeyesrestedonher，Iwasstruckbytherarebeautyofherform，andbytheunaffectedgraceofherattitude。Herfigurewastall，yetnottootall；comelyandwell-developed，yetnotfat；herheadsetonhershoulderswithaneasy，pliantfirmness；herwaist，perfectionintheeyesofaman，foritoccupieditsnaturalplace，itfilledoutitsnaturalcircle，itwasvisiblyanddelightfullyundeformedbystays。Shehadnotheardmyentranceintotheroom；andIallowedmyselftheluxuryofadmiringherforafewmoments，beforeImovedoneofthechairsnearme，astheleastembarrassingmeansofattractingherattention。Sheturnedtowardsmeimmediately。
Theeasyeleganceofeverymovementofherlimbsandbodyassoonasshebegantoadvancefromthefarendoftheroom，setmeinaflutterofexpectationtoseeherfaceclearly。Sheleftthewindow——andIsaidtomyself，Theladyisdark。Shemovedforwardafewsteps——andIsaidtomyself，Theladyisyoung。Sheapproachednearer——andIsaidtomyselfwithasenseofsurprisewhichwordsfailmetoexpress，Theladyisugly！