She wore a black serge gown, with white collar and cuffs; her thick hair rippled low upon each side of the forehead, and behind was gathered into loose vertical coils; in shadow the hue seemed black, but when illumined it was seen to be the darkest, warmest brown.
Offering a strong, shapely hand, she looked at her visitor with a smile which betrayed some mixture of pain in the hearty welcome.
'And how long have you been in London ?' It was the tone of a busy, practical person.

Her voice had not much softness of timbre, and perhaps on that account she kept it carefully subdued.
'So long as that?
How I wish I had known you were so near! I have been in London myself about two years.

And your sisters ?' Virginia explained Alice's absence, adding,-- 'As for poor Monica, she has only Sunday free--except one evening a month.

She is at business till half-past nine, and on Saturday till half-past eleven or twelve.' 'Oh, dear, dear, dear!' exclaimed the other rapidly, making a motion with her hand as if to brush away something disagreeable.

'That will never do.