It was a
childish face, childish in the exquisite smoothness of the soft,
pink skin, childish in the wondering stare of the blue eyes, now
so widely opened in dismay, childish in the wistful drooping of
the rosebud mouth.
The girl advanced slowly, with a laggard hesitation in her
movements obviously from fear. She approached the desk, from
behind which the Inspector watched, fascinated by the fresh and
wholesome beauty of this young creature. He failed to observe
the underlying anger beneath the girl's outward display of alarm.
He shook off his first impression by means of a resort to his
customary bluster in such cases.
"Now, then, my girl," he said roughly, "I want to know----"
There came a change, wrought in the twinkling of an eye. The
tiny, trimly shod foot of the girl rose and fell in a wrathful
stamp.
"How dare you!" The clear blue eyes were become darkened with
anger. There was a deepened leaf of red in either cheek. The
drooping lips drooped no longer, but were bent to a haughtiness
that was finely impressive.
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