Her smile, beginning at her lips, flowed brightly and instantly over her whole face.

A delicious atmosphere of health, freshness, and good humor seemed to radiate from her wherever she went and whatever she did.

For the rest her brown hair grew low over her broad white forehead, and was topped by a neat little lace cap with ribbons of a violet color.
A plain collar and plain cuffs encircled her smooth, round neck, and her plump dimpled hands.

Her merino dress, covering but not hiding the charming outline of her bosom, matched the color of the cap-ribbons, and was brightened by a white muslin apron coquettishly trimmed about the pockets, a gift from Lady Lydiard.

Blushing and smiling, she let the door fall to behind her, and, shyly approaching the stranger, said to him, in her small, clear voice, "If you please, sir, are you Mr.
Hardyman ?" The gravity of the great horse-breeder deserted him at her first question.