Page:Karl Gjellerup - Minna, A novel - 1913.djvu/20

 at me with large, discontented eyes. The look, which so clearly said, "Why can't he go away?" made me very uncomfortable. I felt an intruder, and feared to make matters difficult for the fair young governess, who very likely wished to be alone with her pupils.

I had just made up my mind to move, when she gave me a most humorous look—how humorous I suppose she hardly realised herself—a look which clearly said that my company was agreeable to her, though the reason was not a flattering one for me: she did not wish to tell "more about Peter." I smiled back in a way intended to tell her that I had grasped the situation. Then I made myself still more comfortable, and endured with great calmness the angry eyes of the disappointed little one. It was very pleasing to me to be able to do my pretty neighbour a service in so simple a manner.

For pretty, nay, even beautiful, she was, as I had meanwhile had opportunity to realise. Her face belonged to the square type; it was clearly cut, and, as she was a brunette, at first sight she had rather a southern appearance. But the nose was quite German, short, straight, and modest. The lips possessed a rare charm, for the outline and colouring—from nature's hand, of course—were in perfect harmony. It is often the case that lips are either only perfect in colour or in outline, or the two are not in harmony and therefore spoil one another; here they were perfection itself. As to the little round chin and the curve of the cheek, I had never seen anything so delicately moulded.

She appeared to be of middle height, and rather thin than otherwise. Her dress was not in the latest fashion, which pleased me, but what especially took my fancy was her head-gear. Horribly high-peaked hats, trimmed with artificial flowers, were in vogue that year, and in the saloon