She could hardly drink for looking at him, and
as for eating, that was out of the question.
"I suppose hot climates age people very quickly," said she, almost
to herself. "When you left Cranford you had not a grey hair in
your head."
"But how many years ago is that?" said Mr Peter, smiling.
"Ah, true! yes, I suppose you and I are getting old. But still I
did not think we were so very old! But white hair is very becoming
to you, Peter," she continued--a little afraid lest she had hurt
him by revealing how his appearance had impressed her.
"I suppose I forgot dates too, Matty, for what do you think I have
brought for you from India? I have an Indian muslin gown and a
pearl necklace for you somewhere in my chest at Portsmouth." He
smiled as if amused at the idea of the incongruity of his presents
with the appearance of his sister; but this did not strike her all
at once, while the elegance of the articles did. I could see that
for a moment her imagination dwelt complacently on the idea of
herself thus attired; and instinctively she put her hand up to her
throat--that little delicate throat which (as Miss Pole had told
me) had been one of her youthful charms; but the hand met the touch
of folds of soft muslin in which she was always swathed up to her
chin, and the sensation recalled a sense of the unsuitableness of a
pearl necklace to her age.
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