A susceptible observer, at any rate, might have regarded it as affording very little evidence of the generalbenignity of soul whereof it purported to be the outward reflection.

He exerted himself, during his sojourn among this simple and well-disposed people, to inculcate, as far as he was able, the gentle and humanizing precepts of the Christian faith, and to make them acquainted with the leading points of its history; and it speaks highly for the purity andbenignity of his heart, that he derived unmixed happiness from the task.

"For the last time, do you confess the facts in the case?" demanded Charmolue, with his imperturbablebenignity.

A large faith he might seem to have in what is called "natural optimism," the beauty andbenignity of nature, if let alone, in her mechanical round of changes with man and beast and flower.

She was a long time about it, and when she returned, he was stretched out with both arms under his head, sound asleep, while Aunt March had pulled down the curtains and sat doing nothing in an unusual fit ofbenignity.

A most noblebenignity and purity reposed in the counte- nance of him they called Sir Galahad, and likewise in the king's also; and there was majesty and greatness in the giant frame and high bearing of Sir Launcelot of the Lake.

On her deathbed the fortitude andbenignity of this best of women did not desert her.

Such strange lingering echoes of the old demon-worship might perhaps even now be caught by the diligent listener among the grey-haired peasantry; for the rude mind with difficulty associates the ideas of power andbenignity. A shadowy conception of power that by much persuasion can be induced to refrain from inflicting harm, is the shape most easily taken by the sense of the Invisible in the minds of men who have always been pressed close by primitive wants, and to whom a life of hard toil has never been illuminated by any enthusiastic religious faith.

It bespoke an inward and mighty battle with self, with heredity, with age-old custom, and as he opened his mouth to speak, a look almost ofbenignity, of kindliness, momentarily lighted up his fierce and terrible countenance.

"Sire," said Villefort, "I will render a faithful report to your majesty, but I must entreat your forgiveness if my anxiety leads to some obscurity in my language." A glance at the king after this discreet and subtle exordium, assured Villefort of thebenignity of his august auditor, and he went on: --

He left his station at the nook of the bridge, limped forward with a gracious air, took Dammit by the hand and shook it cordially, looking all the while straight up in his face with an air of the most unadulteratedbenignity which it is possible for the mind of man to imagine.

As he thus moralised on my adventures, he looked upon me with so much humour andbenignity that I could scarce contain my satisfaction.