ShehadwhatMrs。Marchthoughtinterestinghair，ofadullblack，roughlyrolledawayfromherforeheadandtemplesinafashionnotparticularlybecomingtoher，andshehadtheairofnotlookingsowellasshemightifshehadchosen。Theelderlymanonherright，itwaseasytosee，washerfather；theyhadafamilylikeness，thoughhisfairhair，nowashenwithage，wassodifferentfromhers。HeworehisbeardcutinthefashionoftheSecondEmpire，withaLouisNapoleonicmustache，imperial，andchintuft；hisneatheadwascroptclose；andtherewassomethingGallicinitseffectandsomethingremotelymilitary：
hehadblueeyes，reallylessseverethanhemeant，thoughbefrownedagooddeal，andmanagedthemwithglancesofastaccatoquickness，asifchallengingapotentialdisagreementwithhisopinions。
Thegentlemanonhisright，whosatattheheadofthetable，wasofthehumorous，subironicalAmericanexpression，andasmileatthecornerofhiskindlymouth，underaniron-grayfullbeardcutshort，atoncequestionedandtoleratedthenew-comersasheglancedatthem。HerespondedtoMarch’sbowalmostasdecidedlyastheniceboy，whosemotherheconfrontedattheotherendofthetable，andwithhiscomelybulkformedaninterestingcontrasttohervividslightness。Shewasbrilliantlydark，behindthegleamofthegold-rimmedglassesperchedonherprettynose。
IfthetalkhadbeengeneralbeforetheMarchescame，itdidnotatoncerenewitselfinthatform。Nothingwassaidwhiletheywerehavingtheirfirststrugglewiththetable-stewards，whorepeatedtheorderasiftoshowhowfullytheyhadmisunderstoodit。Thegentlemanattheheadofthetableintervenedatlast，andthen，“I’mobligedtoyou。”Marchsaid，foryourGerman。Ileftmineinaphrase-bookinmyothercoatpocket。”
“Oh，Iwasn’tspeakingGerman。”saidtheother。ItwasmerelytheirkindofEnglish。”