Hedidnotlikethem，obstinatelycherishingthatintuitivesuspicionofallthingsfeminine——theperversedislikeofanovergrownboy。Ontheotherhand，shewasperfectlyatherease；doubtlessthewomaninherwasnotyetawakened；shewasyet，asonemightsay，withoutsex。Shewasalmostlikeaboy，frank，candid，unreserved。
Shetookherplaceintheoperatingchairandtoldhimwhatwasthematter，lookingsquarelyintohisface。Shehadfallenoutofaswingtheafternoonoftheprecedingday；
oneofherteethhadbeenknockedlooseandtheotheraltogetherbrokenout。
McTeaguelistenedtoherwithapparentstolidity，noddinghisheadfromtimetotimeasshespoke。Thekeennessofhisdislikeofherasawomanbegantobeblunted。Hethoughtshewasratherpretty，thatheevenlikedherbecauseshewassosmall，soprettilymade，sogoodnaturedandstraightforward。
“Let’shavealookatyourteeth，“hesaid，pickinguphismirror。“Youbettertakeyourhatoff。“Sheleanedbackinherchairandopenedhermouth，showingtherowsoflittleroundteeth，aswhiteandevenasthekernelsonanearofgreencorn，exceptwhereanuglygapcameattheside。