rude but for the charming smile which quivered upon his lips.

Kitty Marchurst was a veritable fairy in size, and her hands and
feet were exquisitely formed, while her figure had all the plumpness
and roundness of a girl of seventeen--which age she was, though she
really did not look more than fourteen. An innocent child-like face,
two limpid blue eyes, a straight little nose, and a charming rose-
lipped mouth were Kitty's principal attractions, and her hair was
really wonderful, growing all over her head in crisp golden curls.
Child-like enough her face looked in repose, but with the smile came
the woman--such a smile, a laughing merry expression such as the
Greeks gave to Hebe. Dressed in a rough white dress trimmed with
pale blue ribbons, and her golden head surmounted by a sailor hat,
with a scarf of the same azure hue tied around it, Kitty looked
really charming, and Vandeloup could hardly restrain himself from
taking her up in his arms and kissing her, so delightfully fresh and
piquant she appeared. Kitty, on her side, had examined Gaston with a
woman's quickness of taking in details, and she mentally decided he
was the best-looking man she had ever seen, only she wished he would
talk. Shyness was not a part of her nature, so after waiting a
reasonable time for Vandeloup to commence, she determined to start
herself.

'I'm waiting to be entertained,' she said, in a hurried voice,
raising her eyes; then afraid of her own temerity, she looked down
again.

Gaston smiled a little at Kitty's outspoken remark, but remembering
Madame's injunction he rather mischievously determined to carry out
her desires to the letter.