Her movements were anything but impassive.

She climbed the stairs with determination and landed at the top with emphasis.

Her knock on the door was clear sharp, unfaltering; it was impossible to pretend not to hear it.

Her "Good-evening" announced business; her manner of taking a chair suggested the throwing-down of the gauntlet.

Invariably she asked for my father, calling him Mr.Anton, and refusing to be corrected; almost invariably he was not at home--was out looking for work.