The face was unduly thin, perhaps, but this,
and the wistful glance of the large grey eyes in repose,
made up an effect that Thorpe found touched him a good deal.
Even when she was in visibly high spirits, the look in these
eyes seemed to him to be laying claim to his protection.
She could be merry upon occasion, in a gentle and tranquil way,
and as her self-confidence expanded under the shelter
of their growing intimacy, she disclosed to her uncle
plenty of initiative and individuality--but what he felt
in her most was a peculiarly sweet and girlish trustfulness,
which made him like himself more than he had ever
done before. He could feel that he was at his very
best--a hitherto unsuspected best--when Julia was about.
He wanted to buy for her everything in the windows upon
which she bestowed the most casual approving glance.
It was a delight merely to look at her, and to meditate upon
the felicity of being able to do things for so charming
a girl.
Alfred made a less direct demand upon his uncle's admiration,
but he was a very good fellow all round. He was big and fair
and muscular, and nothing about him but his spectacles
seemed in Thorpe's mind to be related to his choice of art
as a profession. That so robust and hearty a young fellow
should wish to put paint on a canvas with small brushes,
was to the uncle an unaccountable thing.
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