"
She held up her face side-ways. Into the lobe of her left ear he
insinuated the hook of the black pearl. On the cheek upturned to him
there were still traces of tears; the eyelashes were still spangled.
For all her blondness, they were quite dark, these glistening
eyelashes. He had an impulse, which he put from him. "Now the other
ear," he said. The girl turned her head. Soon the pink pearl was in
its place. Yet the girl did not move. She seemed to be waiting. Nor
did the Duke himself seem to be quite satisfied. He let his fingers
dally with the pearl. Anon, with a sigh, he withdrew them. The girl
looked up. Their eyes met. He looked away from her. He turned away
from her. "You may kiss my hand," he murmured, extending it towards
her. After a pause, the warm pressure of her lips was laid on it. He
sighed, but did not look round. Another pause, a longer pause, and
then the clatter and clink of the outgoing tray.
XVIII
Her actual offspring does not suffice a very motherly woman. Such a
woman was Mrs. Batch. Had she been blest with a dozen children, she
must yet have regarded herself as also a mother to whatever two young
gentlemen were lodging under her roof.
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