Page:Elizabeth's Pretenders.djvu/161

148 Ally, rather than foreigners, she is on the defensive against. She has dropped things which make me believe that, young as she is, she has had some hard experiences. She has once or twice spoken of men in general very bitterly."

"Indeed!" He seemed more interested in the subject than he had yet been. "Such, a mere girl! Do you know anything of her past?"

"Nothing, except that she is an orphan, and seems to have no one left in the world she cares a cent about. Sad, isn't it?"

"Yes," he said slowly, "it is sad; doubly so, because she will not make many friends. I am glad she has made one of you. You are so sensible."

"Ah! sense is rightly called common; and this girl is uncommon. She is not to be judged by ordinary standards. Her face is to me so interesting; so much more than beautiful."

"It is not the least beautiful; but it would paint well. It is an expressive face, and the expression I often see there is defiance."

"Yes, during the first few days she was here it was very marked; but I am sure that is growing less and less. She is reserved, of course. If I had not made the first advance to her, and almost insisted on making friends, I believe we should still be on the most distant terms. As it is, she never speaks of her family—never alludes to her childhood. But I have grown fond, really fond, of her. You say her face would paint well; why don't you ask her to sit to you?"

"Because I am very sure she would refuse. You