CHAPTER II

hadeofthewindowbythelooking-glasspulleddown.Thelinesonherfacedidnotshowsoplainlythen.Butthismorningshejerkedtheshadetotheverytopandlookedatherselfintheleprousmirrorwithapassionatedeterminationtoseeherselfastheworldsawher. Theresultwasratherdreadful.Evenabeautywouldhavefoundthatharsh,unsoftenedside-lighttrying.Valancysawstraightblackhair,shortandthin,alwayslustrelessdespitethefactthatshegaveitonehundredstrokesofthebrush,neithermorenorless,everynightofherlifeandfaithfullyrubbedRedfern’sHairVigorintotheroots,morelustrelessthaneverinitsmorningroughnessfine,straight,blackbrowsanoseshehadalwaysfeltwasmuchtoosmallevenforhersmall,three-cornered,whitefaceasmall,palemouththatalwaysfellopenatrifleoverlittle,pointedwhiteteethafigurethinandflat-breasted,ratherbelowtheaverageheight.Shehadsomehowescapedthefamilyhighcheek-bones,andherdark-browneyes,toosoftandshadowytobeblack,hadaslantthatwasalmostOriental.Apartfromhereyesshewasneitherprettynorugly—justinsignificant-looking,sheconcludedbitterly.Howplainthelinesaroundhereyesandmouthwereinthatmercilesslight!Andneverhadhernarrow,whitefacelookedsonarrowandsowhite. Shedidherhairinapompadour.Pompadourshadlonggoneoutoffashion,buttheyhadbeeninwhenValancyfirstputherhairupandAuntWellingtonhaddecidedthatshemustalwayswearherhairso. “Itistheonlywaythatbecomesyou.Yourfaceissosmallthatyoumustaddheighttoitbyapompadoureffect,”saidAuntWellington,whoalwaysenunciatedcommonplacesasifutteringprofoundandimportanttruths. Valancyhadhankeredtodoherhairpulledlowonherforehead,withpuffsabovetheears,asOlivewaswearinghers.ButAuntWellington’sdictumhadsuchaneffectonherthatsheneverdaredchangeherstyleofhairdressingagain.Butthen,thereweresomanythingsValancyneverdareddo. Allherlifeshehadbeenafr