[The Three Clerks by Anthony Trollope]@TWC D-Link book
The Three Clerks

CHAPTER XVII
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But the training had in nowise injured her; and now, having gone through her gallops and run all her heats for three successive seasons, she was still sound of wind and limb, and fit to run at any moment when called upon.
We have said nothing about the face of the beauteous Clementina, and indeed nothing can be said about it.

There was no feature in it with which a man could have any right to find fault; that she was a 'doosed fine girl' was a fact generally admitted; but nevertheless you might look at her for four hours consecutively on a Monday evening, and yet on Tuesday you would not know her.
She had hair which was brownish and sufficiently silky--and which she wore, as all other such girls do, propped out on each side of her face by thick round velvet pads, which, when the waltzing pace became exhilarating, occasionally showed themselves, looking greasy.

She had a pair of eyes set straight in her head, faultless in form, and perfectly inexpressive.

She had a nose equally straight, but perhaps a little too coarse in dimensions.
She had a mouth not over large, with two thin lips and small whitish teeth; and she had a chin equal in contour to the rest of her face, but on which Venus had not deigned to set a dimple.
Nature might have defied a French passport officer to give a description of her, by which even her own mother or a detective policeman might have recognized her.
When to the above list of attractions it is added that Clementina Golightly had L20,000 of her own, and a reversionary interest in her mother's jointure, it may be imagined that she did not want for good-winded cavaliers to bear her up behind, and whirl around with her with outstretched hands.
'I am not going to stay a moment, my dear,' said Mrs.Val, seating herself on Gertrude's sofa, having rushed up almost unannounced into the drawing-room, followed by Clementina; 'indeed, Lady Howlaway is waiting for me this moment; but I must settle with you about the June flower-show.' 'Oh! thank you, Mrs.Scott, don't trouble yourself about me,' said Gertrude; 'I don't think I shall go.' 'Oh! nonsense, my dear; of course you'll go; it's the show of the year, and the Grand duke is to be there--baby is all right now, you know; I must not hear of your not going.' 'All the same--I fear I must decline,' said Gertrude; 'I think I shall be at Hampton.' 'Oh! nonsense, my dear; of course you must show yourself.

People will say all manner of things else.


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