Nature had surely formed her in a partial mood; and，forgetting her usual stinted step-mother dole of gifts，had endowed this，her darling，with a grand-dame"s bounty.

What did St. John Rivers think of this earthly angel? I naturally asked myself that question as I saw him turn to her and look at her; and，as naturally，I sought the answer to the inquiry in his countenance. He had already withdrawn his eye from the peri，and was looking at a humble tuft of daisies which grew by the wicket.

"A lovely evening，but late for you to be out alone," he said，as he crushed the snowy heads of the closed flowers with his foot.