Havinginstalledherself，withfeminineinstinct，inacrimsoncouchthatframedhertoperfection，ZoeVizardwasatworkembroidering。Shehadsomeflowers，andtheirleaves，lyingnearheronalittletable，and，withcoloredsilks，chenille，etc。，sheimitatedeachfloweranditsleafveryadroitlywithoutapattern。Thiswasclever，and，indeed，ratherararetalent；butsheloweredherheadoverthisworkwithademure，beamingcomplacencyembroideryaloneneveryetexcitedwithoutexternalassistance。Accordingly，onalargestool，orlittleottoman，atherfeet，butatarespectfuldistance，satayoungman，almosthermatchinbeauty，thoughinquiteanotherstyle。Inheightaboutfivefeetten，broad-shouldered，clean-built，amodelofstrength，agility，andgrace。
Hisfacefair，fresh，andhealthy-looking；hislargeeyeshazel；thecrispcurlinghaironhisshapelyheadawonderfulbrowninthemass，butwithonethinstreakofgoldabovetheforehead，andalltheloosehairsglitteringgolden。Ashortclippedmustachesavedhimfromlookingtoofeminine，yetdidnothidehisexpressivemouth。Hehadwhitehands，assoftandsuppleasawoman\'s，amellowvoice，andawinningtongue。ThisdangerousyounggentlemanwasgazingsoftlyonZoeVizardandpurringinherear；andshewasconsciousofhisgazewithoutlookingathim，andwassippingthehoney，andshowedit，byseemingmoreabsorbedinherworkthangirlseverreallyare。
Matters，however，hadnotgoneopenlyveryfar。Shewasstillonherdefense:so，afterimbibinghisflatteriesdemurelyalongtime，shediscovered，allinonemoment，thattheywereobjectionable。\"Dearme，Mr。Severne，\"saidshe，\"youdonothingbutpaycompliments。\"
\"HowcanIhelpit，sittinghere?\"inquiredhe。
\"There——there，\"saidshe:then，quietly，\"Doesitneveroccurtoyouthatonlyfoolishpeoplearepleasedwithflatteries?\"