Hampton could
scarcely refrain from forming a mental picture of the woman who would
most naturally preside within so unpolished an abode--an angular,
hard-featured, vinegar-tempered creature, firm settled in her
prejudices and narrowed by her creed. Had the matter been left at that
moment to his own decision, this glimpse of the house would have turned
them both back, but the girl unhesitatingly pressed forward and turned
defiantly in through the gateless opening. He followed in silence
along the narrow foot-path bordered by weeds, and stood back while she
stepped boldly up on the rude stone slab and rapped sharply against the
warped and sagging door. A moment they stood thus waiting with no
response from within. Once she glanced suspiciously around at him,
only to wheel back instantly and once more apply her knuckles to the
wood. Before he had conjured up something worth saying the door was
partially opened, and a rounded dumpling of a woman, having rosy
cheeks, her hair iron-gray, her blue eyes half smiling in uncertain
welcome, looked out upon them questioningly.
"I 've come to live here," announced the girl, sullenly.
Pages:
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105