this.

39

In the proudly poised head, the small, swiftly moving hands, and the tiny feet there was a birdlike alertness which was the epitome of action. The supple body, however, lacked the bird’s fluttering uncertainty; rather the figure bespoke a control that had its birth in an absence of all self-consciousness and the obedience of perfectly trained muscles to a compelling will.

Without a shadow of embarrassment Lucy endured her aunt’s inspection.

“Anybody’d think,” commented Ellen to herself in a mixture of indignation and amusement, “that she was a princess comin’ a-visitin’ instead of bein’ a charity orphan.”

Yet although she fumed inwardly at the girl’s attitude, she did not really dislike it. Spirit flashed in the youthful face, and Ellen admired spirit. She would have scorned a cringing, apologetic Webster. Unquestionably in her niece’s calm assurance there was no hint of the dependent.

As she stood serenely in the center of the room, Lucy’s gaze wandered over her aunt’s 40 shoulder and composedly scanned every detail of the kitchen, traveling from ceiling to floor, examining the spotless shelves, the primly arranged pots and pans, the gleaming tin dipper above the sink. Then the roving eyes came back to the older woman and settled with unconcealed curiosity upon her lined and sharply cut features.

40

Beneath the intentness of the scrutiny Ellen colored uneasily.

“Well?” she demanded tartly.

Lucy started.

“You seem to have made up your mind about me,” went on the rasping voice. “Am I what you expected?”

“No.”

The monosyllable came quietly.

“What sort of an aunt were you lookin’ for?”

Lucy waited a moment and then replied with childlike directness:

 Prev. P 21/163 next