For beauty Sylvia Thesiger had, uncommon in its quality rather than in its degree.

From the temples to the round point of her chin the contour of her face described a perfect oval.

Her forehead was broad and low and her hair, which in color was a dark chestnut, parted in the middle, whence it rippled in two thick daring waves to the ears, a fashion which noticeably became her, and it was gathered behind into a plait which lay rather low upon the nape of her neck.

Her eyes were big, of a dark gray hue and very quiet in their scrutiny; her mouth, small and provoking.

It provoked, when still, with the promise of a very winning smile, and the smile itself was not so frequent but that it provoked a desire to summon it to her lips again.