Nature, too, had made so many
improvements that the general effect was unusually delightful.
Bill perceived Elizabeth coming toward him from the house. He
threw away his cigar and went to meet her. Seen by daylight, she
was more attractive than ever. She looked so small and neat and
wholesome, so extremely unlike Miss Daisy Leonard's friend. And
such was the reaction from what might be termed his later
Reigelheimer's mood that if he had been asked to define feminine
charm in a few words, he would have replied without hesitation
that it was the quality of being as different as possible in every
way from the Good Sport. Elizabeth fulfilled this qualification.
She was not only small and neat, but she had a soft voice to which
it was a joy to listen.
'I was just admiring your place,' he said.
'Its appearance is the best part of it,' said Elizabeth. 'It is a
deceptive place. The bay looks beautiful, but you can't bathe in
it because of the jellyfish. The woods are lovely, but you daren't
go near them because of the ticks.'
'Ticks?'
'They jump on you and suck your blood,' said Elizabeth, carelessly.
'And the nights are gorgeous, but you have to stay indoors after
dusk because of the mosquitoes.' She paused to mark the effect of
these horrors on her visitor.
Pages:
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110