CHAPTER XXXII 464 attractive adult acquaintance .
She had taken an amiable caprice to me . She said I was like Mr . Rivers , only , certainly , she allowed , " not one-tenth so handsome , though I was a nice neat little soul enough , but he was an angel ." I was , however , good , clever , composed , and firm , like him . I was a lusus naturae , she affirmed , as a village schoolmistress : she was sure my previous history , if known , would make a delightful romance .
One evening , while , with her usual child-like activity , and thoughtless yet not offensive inquisitiveness , she was rummaging the cupboard and the table-drawer of my little kitchen , she discovered first two French books , a volume of Schiller , a German grammar and dictionary , and then my drawing-materials and some sketches , including a pencil-head of a pretty little cherub-like girl , one of my scholars , and sundry views from nature , taken in the Vale of Morton and on the surrounding moors . She was first transfixed with surprise , and then electrified with delight .
" Had I done these pictures ? Did I know French and German ? What a love -- what a miracle I was ! I drew better than her master in the first school in S- . Would I sketch a portrait of her , to show to papa ?"
" With pleasure ," I replied ; and I felt a thrill of artist-delight at the idea of copying from so perfect and radiant a model . She had then on a dark-blue silk dress ; her arms and her neck were bare ; her only ornament was her chestnut tresses , which waved over her shoulders with all the wild grace of natural curls . I took a sheet of fine card-board , and drew a careful outline . I promised myself the pleasure of colouring it ; and , as it was getting late then , I told her she must come and sit another day .
She made such a report of me to her father , that Mr . Oliver himself accompanied her next evening -- a tall , massive-featured , middle-aged , and grey-headed man , at whose side his lovely daughter looked like a bright flower near a hoary turret . He appeared a taciturn , and perhaps a proud personage ; but he was very kind to me . The sketch of Rosamond ' s portrait pleased him highly : he said I must make a finished picture of it . He