long, a nose which the schoolmaster declared was "statuesque"
(used in a good sense, he explained to the village folk, who could
never be brought to see the difference between a statue and an
idol--the second commandment being of literal interpretation along
the Loch Grannoch side), and eyes which, emulating the parish
poet, we can only describe as like two blue waves when they rise
just far enough to catch a sparkle of light on their crests. The
subject of her mouth, though tempting, we refuse to touch. Its
description has already wrecked three promising reputations.

But withal Winsome Charteris set her pails as frankly and plumply
on the ground, as though she were plain as a pike-staff, and bent
a moment over to look into the gypsy-pot swung on its birchen
triangle. Then she made an impatient movement of her hand, as if
to push the biting fir-wood smoke aside. This angered Ralph, who
considered it ridiculous and ill-ordered that a gesture which
showed only a hasty temper and ill-regulated mind should be
undeniably pretty and pleasant to look upon, just because it was
made by a girl's hand. He was angry with himself, yet he hoped she
would do it again. Instead, she took up one pail of water after
the other, swung them upward with a single dexterous movement, and
poured the water into the pot, from which the steam was rising.
Ralph Peden could see the sunlight sparkle in the water as it
arched itself solidly out of the pails. He was not near enough to
see the lilac sprig on her light summer gown; but the lilac
sunbonnet which she wore, principally it seemed in order that it
might hang by the strings upon her shoulders, was to Ralph a
singularly attractive piece of colour in the landscape. This he
did not resent, because it is always safe to admire colour.