For there were great doings at the Place and much coming and going . My aunts were never idle ; there was to be much festivity Christmas week and a ball on Christmas Eve . And my aunts had promised me -- though not till I had wearied them of my coaxing -- that I should stay up that night and see as much of the gaiety as was good for me . So I did their errands and went early to bed every night without complaint -- though I did this the more readily for that , when they thought me safely asleep , they would come in and talk around my bedroom fire , saying that of Alicia which I should not have heard . At last came the day when my Uncle Hugh and his wife were expected home -- though not until my scanty patience was well nigh wearied out -- and we were all assembled to meet them in the great hall , where a ruddy firelight was gleaming . My Aunt Frances had dressed me in my best white frock and my crimson sash , with much lamenting over my skinny neck and arms , and bade me behave prettily , as became my bringing up . So I slipped in a corner , my hands and feet cold with excitement , for I think every drop of blood in my body had gone to my head , and my heart beat so hardly that it even pained me . Then the door opened and Alicia -- for so I was used to hearing her called , nor did I ever think of her as my aunt in my own mind -- came in , and a little in the rear my tall , dark uncle . She came proudly forward to the fire and stood there superbly while she loosened her cloak , nor did she see me at all at first , but nodded , a little disdainfully , it seemed , to Mrs. Montressor and my aunts , who were grouped about the drawing-room door , very ladylike and quiet . But I neither saw nor heard aught at the time save her only , for her beauty , when she came forth from her crimson cloak and hood , was something so wonderful that I forgot my manners and stared at her as one fascinated -- as indeed I was , for never had I seen such loveliness and hardly dreamed it . Pretty women I had seen in plenty , for my aunts and my mother were counted fair , but my uncle 's wife was as little like to them as a sunset glow to pale moonshine or a crimson rose to white day-lilies . Nor can I paint her to you in words as I saw her then , with the long tongues of firelight licking her white neck and wavering over the rich masses of her red-gold hair . She was tall -- so tall that my aunts looked but insignificant beside her , and they were of no mean height , as became their race ; yet no queen could have carried herself more royally , and all the passion and fire of her foreign nature burned in her splendid eyes , that might have been dark or light for aught that I could ever tell , but which seemed always like pools of warm flame , now tender , now fierce . Her skin was like a delicate white rose leaf , and when she spoke I told my foolish self that never had I heard music before ; nor do I ever again think to hear a voice so sweet , so liquid , as that which rippled over her ripe lips . I had often in my own mind pictured this , my first meeting with Alicia , now in one way , now in another , but never had I dreamed of her speaking to me at all , so that it came to me as a great surprise when she turned and , holding out her lovely hands , said very graciously : `` And is this the little Beatrice ? I have heard much of you -- come , kiss me , child . '' And I went , despite my Aunt Elizabeth 's black frown , for the glamour of her loveliness was upon me , and I no longer wondered that my Uncle Hugh should have loved her . Very proud of her was he too ; yet I felt , rather than saw -- for I was sensitive and quick of perception , as old-young children ever are -- that there was something other than pride and love in his face when he looked on her , and more in his manner than the fond lover -- as it were , a sort of lurking mistrust . Nor could I think , though to me the thought seemed as treason , that she loved her husband overmuch , for she seemed half condescending and half disdainful to him ; yet one thought not of this in her presence , but only remembered it when she had gone . When she went out it seemed to me that nothing was left , so I crept lonesomely away to the wing hall and sat down by a window to dream of her ; and she filled my thoughts so fully that it was no surprise when I raised my eyes and saw her coming down the hall alone , her bright head shining against the dark old walls .
When she paused by me and asked me lightly XXXXX what I was dreaming , since I had such a sober face , I answered her truly that it was of her -- whereat she laughed , as one not ill pleased , and said half mockingly : `` Waste not your thoughts so , little Beatrice .
At For beside despite like of out than though until