Love at Second Sight by Ada Leverson
page 3 of 263 (01%)
page 3 of 263 (01%)
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and partly to the intellect. She was essentially not one of those women
who irritate all their own sex by their power (and still more by their fixed determination) to attract men; she was really and unusually indifferent to general admiration. Still, that she was not a cold woman, not incapable of passionate feeling, was obvious to any physiognomist; the fully curved lips showed her generous and pleasure-loving temperament, while the softly glancing, intelligent, smiling eyes spoke fastidiousness and discrimination. Her voice was low and soft, with a vibrating sound in it, and she laughed often and easily, being very ready to see and enjoy the amusing side of life. But observation and emotion alike were instinctively veiled by a quiet, reposeful manner, so that she made herself further popular by appearing retiring. Edith Ottley might so easily have been the centre of any group, and yet--she was not! Women were grateful to her, and in return admitted that she was pretty, unaffected and charming. Today she was dressed very simply in dark blue and might have passed for Archie's elder sister. 'It isn't anything. It wasn't my fault. It was her fault. Madame Frabelle said _she_ would teach me to take away her mandolin and use it for a cricket bat. She needn't teach me; I know already.' 'Now, Archie, you know perfectly well you've no right to go into her room when she isn't there.' 'How can I go in when she is there?... She won't let me. Besides, I don't want to.' 'It isn't nice of you; you ought not to go into her room without her permission.' |
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