Eleanorwascertainlythinkingmoreofherfatherthanherself，asshearrangedherhairbeforetheglass，andremovedthetracesofsorrowfromherface；andyetIshouldbeuntrueifIsaidthatshewasnotanxioustoappearwellbeforeherlover:
whyelsewasshesosedulouswiththatstubborncurlthatwouldrebelagainstherhand，andsmoothsoeagerlyherruffledribands？whyelsedidshedamphereyestodispeltheredness，andbiteherprettylipstobringbackthecolour？Ofcourseshewasanxioustolookherbest，forshewasbutamortalangelafterall。Buthadshebeenimmortal，hadsheflittedbacktothesitting-roomonacherub’swings，shecouldnothavehadamorefaithfulheart，oratruerwishtosaveherfatheratanycosttoherself。
JohnBoldhadnotmethersincethedaywhenshelefthimindudgeoninthecathedralclose。Sincethathiswholetimehadbeenoccupiedinpromotingthecauseagainstherfather，andnotunsuccessfully。Hehadoftenthoughtofher，andturnedoverinhismindahundredschemesforshowingherhowdisinterestedwashislove。Hewouldwritetoherandbeseechhernottoallowtheperformanceofapublicdutytoinjurehiminherestimation；hewouldwritetoMrHarding，explainallhisviews，andboldlyclaimthewarden’sdaughter，urgingthattheuntowardcircumstancesbetweenthemneedbenobartotheirancientfriendship，ortoaclosertie；hewouldthrowhimselfonhiskneesbeforehismistress；hewouldwaitandmarrythedaughterwhenthefatherhaslosthishomeandhisincome；hewouldgiveupthelawsuitandgotoAustralia，withherofcourse，leavingTheJupiterandMrFinneytocompletethecasebetweenthem。Sometimesashewokeinthemorningfeveredandimpatient，hewouldblowouthisbrainsandhavedonewithallhiscares——butthisideawasgenerallyconsequentonanimprudentsupperenjoyedincompanywithTomTowers。
HowbeautifulEleanorappearedtohimassheslowlywalkedintotheroom！Notfornothinghadallthoselittlecaresbeentaken。Thoughhersister，thearchdeacon’swife，hadspokenslightinglyofhercharms，Eleanorwasverybeautifulwhenseenaright。Herswasnotofthoseimpassivefaces，whichhavethebeautyofamarblebust；finelychiselledfeatures，perfectineveryline，truetotherulesofsymmetry，aslovelytoastrangerastoafriend，unvaryingunlessinsickness，orasageaffectsthem。Shehadnostartlingbrilliancyofbeauty，nopearlywhiteness，noradiantcarnation。Shehadnotthemajesticcontourthatrivetsattention，demandsinstantwonderandthendisappointsbythecoldnessofitscharms。YoumightpassEleanorHardinginthestreetwithoutnotice，butyoucouldhardlypassaneveningwithherandnotloseyourheart。
Shehadneverappearedmorelovelytoherloverthanshenowdid。Herfacewasanimatedthoughitwasserious，andherfulldarklustrouseyesshonewithanxiousenergy；herhandtrembledasshetookhis，andshecouldhardlypronouncehisname，whensheaddressedhim。BoldwishedwithallhisheartthattheAustralianschemewasintheactofrealisation，andthatheandEleanorwereawaytogether，nevertohearfurtherofthelawsuit。