The girl was perhaps twenty-one or twenty-two, of a brunette type, and, though slender, was not at all fragile-looking. Her large, dark eyes had a pathetic expression, but except for this her appearance was haughty, proud, and exceedingly reserved. She had never so much as glanced at Mrs. Mulford or myself with the least hint of personal interest. To be sure, I had no reason to expect such a thing, but the truth is, I felt sorry for[Pg 13] the girl, who must certainly lead a hard life with that dreadful old man. [Pg 13] Laura informed me that there was no one else in the Pembroke household except one servant, a young colored woman. I had seen Miss Pembroke perhaps not more than a half-dozen times, and I had already observed this: if I chanced to see her as she came out of her own door or descended in the elevator, she was apparently nervously excited. Her cheeks were flushed and her expression was one of utter exasperation, as if she had been tried almost beyond endurance. If, on the other hand, I saw her as she was returning from a walk or an errand, her face was calm and serene—not smiling, but with a patient, resigned look, as of one who had her emotions under control. At either time she was beautiful. Indeed, I scarcely know which aspect seemed to me more attractive: the quivering glow of righteous indignation or the brave calm of enforced cheerfulness. Nor had I any right to consider her attractive in either case. It is not for a man to think too personally about a woman he has never met. But I had never before seen a face that so plainly, yet so unconsciously, showed passing emotions, and it fascinated me. [Pg 14] [Pg 14] Aside from Miss Pembroke's beauty, she must be, I decided, possessed of great strength of character and great depth of feeling. But beyond all doubt the girl was not happy, and though this was not my affair, it vaguely troubled me. I admitted to myself, I even admitted to Laura, that I felt compassion for this young woman who seemed to be so ill-treated; but my sister advised me not to waste my sympathy too easily, for it was her opinion that the young woman was quite capable of taking care of herself, and that in all probability she held her own against her poor old uncle.
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