He was dark, heavy-haired, young, lean, broad and of fine height even as he knelt beside her.
Laodice did not note any of these things.

She was only conscious of the immense power her terror and her helplessness had to combat.

Back of all this iron selfishness, she hoped that somewhere was a gentleness, even if inert and useless.

All her strength was concentrated in the effort to bring it to life.
He gazed at her, apparently unconscious of the desperation in the face lifted to him.

The slow smile that presently grew again in his eyes was none the less unthoughted.