The narrow oval of her face remained unspoiled but the small features, once delicately clear, appeared in some strange way to be blurred and coarsened.

The fine grained skin which should have been delicate and firm had coarsened also and upon close inspection showed multitudes of tiny lines.

Her fluffy hair was very fair, ashy fair almost, and would have been startlingly lovely only that it, too, was spoiled by a dryness and lack of gloss which spoke of careless treatment or ill health, or both.

Still, at a little distance, Mary Coombe appeared a young and attractive woman.

The surprise came when one looked into her eyes.