She was not at all handsome, or even pretty; yet something in the pale, sweet, earnest face, something in the soft clear gray eyes touched his heart even before he was presented to her.

But when she lifted those eloquent eyes to his face, there was such a world of sympathy, appreciation and devotion in their swift and swiftly-withdrawn gaze, that her soul seemed then and there to reveal itself to his soul.
He never again met the full gaze of those spirit eyes.

He never exchanged a word with her after the first few formal words of greeting.

He had only bowed to her, in taking leave that evening.
Yet those eyes had haunted him in their meek appealing tenderness ever since.

He did not meet her anywhere by accident, and he did not try to meet her by design.