She had dark hair and large blue eyes; her complexion was rich, and her dress of light silk was wonderfully well shaped.
[Illustration: "The beauty of her teeth"] All this I saw at a glance, and immediately afterwards I also perceived that she had most beautiful teeth; for when she beheld me as I rose from my chair and stood in my elevated position before her she could not restrain a laugh; but for this apparent impoliteness I did not blame her at all.
But not so much as a smile came upon the countenance of the elderly gentleman.

He, too, was small, but he had a deep voice.

"Good-evening, sir," said he.

"I am told that you are the school-master at Walford, and that you were overtaken by the storm." I assured him that these were the facts, and stood waiting to hear what he would say next.
"It was very proper indeed, sir, that my gardener and his wife should take you under the protection of this roof, but as I hear that it is proposed that you should spend the night here, I have come down to speak about it.

I will tell you at once, sir, that I have given my man the most positive orders that he is not to allow any one to spend a night in this house.