When she did, it was not unfrequently
with the tears in her eyes, and then she looked lovely. In her
manner there was an indescribably taking charm, of which it is
not easy to give an impression; but I think it sprang from a
constitutional humility, partly ruined into a painful and
haunting sense of inferiority, for which she imagined herself to
blame. Hence there dwelt in her eyes an appeal which few hearts
could resist. When they met another's, they seemed to say: "I am
nobody; but you need not kill me; I am not pretending to be
anybody. I will try to do what you want, but I am not clever.
Only I am sorry for it. Be gentle with me." To Godfrey, at least,
her eyes spoke thus.
In ten minutes or so he reappeared, far at the other end of the
yew-walk, approaching slowly, with a book, in which he seemed
thoughtfully searching as he came. When they saw him the girls
instinctively moved farther from each other, making large room
for him between them, and when he came up he silently took the
place thus silently assigned him.
"I am going to try your brains now, Letty," he said, and tapped
the book with a finger.
"Oh, please don't!" pleaded Letty, as if he had been threatening
her with a small amputation, or the loss of a front tooth.
"Yes," he persisted; "and not your brains only, Letty, but your
heart, and all that is in you."
At this even Mary could not help feeling a little frightened; and
she was glad there was no occasion for her to speak.
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