'
Of the impression produced by Margaret on those who were but slightly
acquainted with her, some notion may be formed from the following
sketch:--
"In general society, she commanded respect rather than
admiration All persons were curious to see her, and in full
rooms her fine head and spiritual expression at once marked
her out from the crowd; but the most were repelled by what
seemed conceit, pedantry, and a harsh spirit of criticism,
while, on her part, she appeared to regard those around her
as frivolous, superficial, and conventional. Indeed, I must
frankly confess, that we did not meet in pleasant relations,
except now and then, when the lifting of a veil, as it were,
revealed for a moment the true life of each. Yet I was fond of
looking at her from a distance, and defending her when silly
people were inclined to cavil at her want of feminine graces.
Then I would say, 'I would like to be an artist now, that I
might paint, not the care-worn countenance and the uneasy air
of one seemingly out of harmony with the scene about her, but
the soul that sometimes looks out from under those large lids.
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