This selection from The Haunted Hotel by Wilkie Collins is offered without comment.
“The influence that instantly stopped him, on the way to his carriage, was the silent influence of her face. The startling contrast between the corpse-like pallor of her complexion and the overpowering life and light, the glittering metallic brightness in her large black eyes, held him literally spell-bound. She was dressed in dark colours, with perfect taste; she was of middle height, and (apparently) of middle age—say a year or two over thirty. Her lower features—the nose, mouth, and chin—possessed the fineness and delicacy of form which is oftener seen among women of foreign races than among women of English birth. She was unquestionably a handsome person...”
Comments
So this is how you break 6+ months of silence? Didn't know you were a Collins fan.
Posted by: Tara on Saturday, December 8, 2007
I saw a commercial before the movie I saw today (Enchanted). The scenes were supposed to be 10+ years apart. Santa gives a very little girl a coke, then he gives her two so she can share when she bumps into her guy, etc. Finally she (as an older woman with gray hair) taps him on the should and offers him a coke.
Seeing the change from little girl to old woman sparked some emotion in me (no, I didn't cry over a commercial). I'm actually not sure if it was because I didn't realize she had her daughter with her and therefore was not alone or if it was because she was old. Hopefully it was the former- I'd rather fear loneliness than old age.
The scene in The Ghost and Mrs. Muir where we see Mrs. Muir as an old woman makes me cry. But I think that's also the concept of living one's whole life alone?
But corpse-like pallor! We're not dead yet!
Posted by: Shannon on Saturday, December 8, 2007
Guess what Shannon...apparently you are middle-aged!!
Posted by: Jess on Saturday, December 8, 2007
Tara, I've found it much more difficult to post regularly now that I've reached middle age. I might have waited until I had something profound to say but then that might have been a very long wait.
I've read both The Moonstone (thanks to you) and The Woman in White. I thought I would try some of his short stories (novellas?) next.
Posted by: CJ on Saturday, December 8, 2007
Guess what Jessica...soon you too will have one foot in the grave. BWA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!!!!!!!
Posted by: CJ on Saturday, December 8, 2007