\"TalkingofsuddendisappearancestheoneyoumentionofHannahinthatLeavenworthcaseofours，isnottheonlyremarkableonewhichhascomeundermydirectnotice。Indeed，Iknowofanotherthatinsomerespects，atleast，surpassesthatinpointsofinterest，andifyouwillpromisenottoinquireintotherealnamesofthepartiesconcerned，astheaffairisasecret，Iwillrelateyoumyexperienceregardingit。\"
ThespeakerwasQ，therisingyoungdetective，universallyacknowledgedbyusoftheforceasthemostastutemanformysteriousandunprecedentedcases，theninthebureau，alwaysandofcourseexceptingMr。Gryce；andsuchastatementfromhimcouldnotbutarouseourdeepestcuriosity。Drawingup，then，tothestovearoundwhichweweresittinginlazyenjoymentofoneofthoseoff-hourssodeartoadetective\'sheart，wegavewithalacritytherequiredpromise；andsettlinghimselfbackwiththesatisfiedairofamanwhohasagoodstorytotellthatdoesnotentirelylackcertainpointsredoundingtohisowncredit，hebegan:
IwasoneSundaymorningloiteringatthe——PrecinctStation，whenthedooropenedandarespectable-lookingmiddle-agedwomancamein，whoseagitatedairatonceattractedmyattention。Goinguptoher，I
askedherwhatshewanted。
\"Adetective，\"shereplied，glancingcautiouslyaboutonthefacesofthevariousmenscatteredthroughtheroom。\"Idon\'twishanythingsaidaboutit，butagirldisappearedfromourhouselastnight，and\"——shestoppedhere，heremotionseemingtochokeher——\"andIwantsomeonetolookherup，\"shewentonatlastwiththemostintenseemphasis。
\"Agirl?whatkindofagirl；andwhathousedoyoumeanwhenyousayourhouse?\"
Shelookedatmekeenlybeforereplying。\"Youareayoungman，\"saidshe；\"isn\'ttheresomeoneheremoreresponsiblethanyourselfthatI
cantalkto?\"
IshruggedmyshouldersandbeckonedtoMr。Grycewhowasjustthenpassing。Sheatonceseemedtoputconfidenceinhim。Drawinghimaside，shewhisperedafewloweagerwordswhichIcouldnothear。HelistenednonchalantlyforamomentbutsuddenlymadeamovewhichI
knewindicatedstrongandsurprisedinterest，thoughfromhisface——butyouknowwhatGryce\'sfaceis。Iwasabouttowalkoff，convincedhehadgotholdofsomethinghewouldprefertomanagehimself，whentheSuperintendentcamein。
\"WhereisGryce?\"askedhe；\"tellhimIwanthim。\"
Mr。Gryceheardhimandhastenedforward。Ashepassedme，hewhispered，\"Takeamanandgowiththiswoman；lookintomattersandsendmewordifyouwantme；Iwillbeherefortwohours。\"
Ididnotneedasecondpermission。BeckoningtoHarris，I
reapproachedthewoman。\"Wheredoyoucomefrom，\"saidI，\"Iamtogobackwithyouandinvestigatetheaffairitseems。\"
\"Didhesayso?\"sheasked，pointingtoMr。GrycewhonowstoodwithhisbacktousbusilytalkingwiththeSuperintendent。
Inodded，andsheatoncemovedtowardsthedoor。\"IcomefromNo——
SecondAvenue:Mr。Blake\'shouse，\"shewhispered，utteringanamesowellknown，IatonceunderstoodMr。Gryce\'smovementofsuddeninterest\"Agirl——onewhosewedforus——disappearedlastnightinawaytoalarmusverymuch。Shewastakenfromherroom——\"
\"Yes，\"shecriedvehemently，seeingmylookofsarcasticincredulity，\"takenfromherroom；sheneverwentofherownaccord；andshemustbefoundifIspendeverydollarofthepittanceIhavelaidupinthebankagainstmyoldage。\"
Hermannerwassointense，hertonesomarkedandherwordssovehement，Iatonceandnaturallyaskedifthegirlwasarelativeofhersthatshefeltherabductionsokeenly。
\"No，\"shereplied，\"notarelative，but，\"shewenton，lookingeverywaybutinmyface，\"averydearfriend——a——a——protegee，Ithinktheycallit，ofmine；I——I——Shemustbefound，\"sheagainreiterated。
Wewerebythistimeinthestreet。
\"Nothingmustbesaidaboutit，\"shenowwhispered，catchingmebythearm。\"Itoldhimso，\"noddingbacktothebuildingfromwhichwehadjustissued，\"andhepromisedsecrecy。Itcanbedonewithoutfolksknowinganythingaboutit，can\'tit?\"
\"What?\"Iasked。
\"Findingthegirl。\"
\"Well，\"saidI，\"wecantellyoubetteraboutthatwhenweknowafewmoreofthefacts。Whatisthegirl\'snameandwhatmakesyouthinkshedidn\'tgooutofthehouse-doorofherownaccord?\"
\"Why，why，everything。Shewasn\'tthepersontodoit；thenthelooksofherroom，and——Theyallgotoutofthewindow，\"shecriedsuddenly，\"andwentawaybythesidegateinto——Street。\"
\"They?Whodoyoumeanbythey?\"
\"Why，whoevertheywerewhocarriedheroff。\"
Icouldnotsuppressthe\"bah!\"thatrosetomylips。Mr。Grycemighthavebeenableto，butIamnotGryce。
\"Youdon\'tbelieve，\"saidshe，\"thatshewascarriedoff?\"
\"Well，no，\"saidI，\"notinthesenseyoumean。\"
Shegaveanothernodbacktothepolicestationnowablockorsodistant。\"Hedid\'ntseemtodoubtitatall。\"
Ilaughed。\"Didyoutellhimyouthoughtshehadbeentakenoffinthisway?\"
\"Yes，andhesaid，\'Verylikely。\'Andwellhemight，forIheardthementalkinginherroom，and——\"
\"Youheardmentalkinginherroom——when?\"
\"O，itmusthavebeenaslateashalf-pasttwelve。Ihadbeenasleepandthenoisetheymadewhispering，wokeme。\"
\"Wait，\"Isaid，\"tellmewhereherroomis，hersandyours。\"
\"Hersisthethirdstoryback，minethefrontoneonthesamefloor。\"
\"Whoareyou?\"Inowinquired。\"WhatpositiondoyouoccupyinMr。
Blake\'shouse?\"
\"Iamthehousekeeper。\"
Mr。Blakewasabachelor。
\"Andyouwerewakenedlastnightbyhearingwhisperingwhichseemedtocomefromthisgirl\'sroom。\"
\"Yes，Iatfirstthoughtitwasthefolksnextdoor，——weoftenhearthemwhentheyareunusuallynoisy，——butsoonIbecameassureditcamefromherroom；andmoreastonishedthanIcouldsay，——Sheisagoodgirl，\"shebrokein，suddenlylookingatmewithhotlyindignanteyes，\"a——a——asgoodagirlasthiswholecitycanshow；don\'tyoudare，anyofyou，tohintatanythingelseo——\"
\"Come，come，\"Isaidsoothingly，alittleashamedofmytoocommunicativeface，\"Ihaven\'tsaidanything，wewilltakeitforgrantedsheisasgoodasgold，goon。\"
Thewomanwipedherforeheadwithahandthattrembledlikealeaf。
\"WherewasI?\"saidshe。\"O，Iheardvoicesandwassurprisedandgotupandwenttoherdoor。ThenoiseImadeunlockingmyownmusthavestartledher，forallwasperfectlyquietwhenIgotthere。Iwaitedamoment，thenIturnedtheknobandcalledher:shedidnotreplyandIcalledagain。Thenshecametothedoor，butdidnotunlockit。
\'Whatisit?\'sheasked。\'O，\'saidI，\'IthoughtIheardtalkinghereandIwasfrightened，\'\'Itmusthavebeennextdoor，\'saidshe。I
beggedpardonandwentbacktomyroom。Therewasnomorenoise，butwheninthemorningwebrokeintoherroomandfoundhergone，thewindowopenandsignsofdistressandstrugglearound，IknewIhadnotbeenmistaken；thatthereweremenwithherwhenIwenttoherdoor，andthattheyhadcarriedheroff——\"
ThistimeIcouldnotrestrainmyself。
\"Didtheydropheroutofthewindow?\"Iinquired。
\"O，\"saidshe，\"wearebuildinganextension，andthereisaladderrunninguptothethirdfloor，anditwasbymeansofthattheytookher。\"
\"Indeed!sheseemsatleasttohavebeenawillingvictim，\"I
remarked。
Thewomanclutchedmyarmwithagriplikeiron。\"Don\'tyoubelieveit，\"gaspedshe，stoppingmeinthestreetwherewewere。\"ItellyouifwhatIsayistrue，andtheseburglarsorwhatevertheywere，didcarryheroff，itwasanagonytoher，anawful，awfulthingthatwillkillherifithasnotdonesoalready。Youdon\'tknowwhatyouaretalkingabout，youneversawher——\"
\"Wasshepretty，\"Iasked，hurryingthewomanalong，formorethanonepasser-byhadturnedtheirheadstolookatus。Thequestionseemedinsomewaytogiveherashock。
\"Ah，Idon\'tknow，\"shemuttered；\"somemightnotthinkso，Ialwaysdid；itdependeduponthewayyoulookedather。\"
ForthefirsttimeIfeltathrillofanticipationshootthroughmyveins。Why，Icouldnotsay。Hertonewaspeculiar，andshespokeinasortofbroodingwayasthoughshewereweighingsomethinginherownmind；butthenhermannerhadbeenpeculiarthroughout。Whateveritwasthatarousedmysuspicion，Ideterminedhenceforthtokeepaverysharpeyeuponherladyship。Levellingastraightglanceatherface，Iaskedherhowitwasthatshecametobetheonetoinformtheauthoritiesofthegirl\'sdisappearance。
\"Doesn\'tMr。Blakeknowanythingaboutit?\"
Thefaintestshadowofachangecameintohermanner。\"Yes，\"saidshe，\"Itoldhimatbreakfasttime；butMr。Blakedoesn\'ttakemuchinterestinhisservants；heleavesallsuchmatterstome。\"
\"Thenhedoesnotknowyouhavecomeforthepolice?\"
\"No，sir，andO，ifyouwouldbesogoodastokeepitfromhim。Itisnotnecessaryheshouldknow。Ishallletyouinthebackway。Mr。
Blakeisamanwhonevermeddleswithanything，and——\"
\"WhatdidMr。Blakesaythismorningwhenyoutoldhimthatthisgirl——Bytheway，whatishername?\"
\"Emily。\"
\"Thatthisgirl，Emily，haddisappearedduringthenight?\"
\"Notmuchofanything，sir。Hewassittingatthebreakfasttablereadinghispaper，hemerelylookedup，frownedalittleinanabsent-mindedway，andtoldmeImustmanagetheservants\'affairswithouttroublinghim。\"
\"Andyouletitdrop?\"
\"Yessir；Mr。Blakeisnotamantospeaktwiceto。\"
IcouldeasilybelievethatfromwhatIhadseenofhiminpublic，forthoughbynomeansaharshlookingman，hehadareservedairwhichifmaintainedinprivatemusthavemadehimverydifficultofapproach。
Wewerenowwithinahalfblockorsooftheold-fashionedmansionregardedbythisscionofNewYork\'saristocracyasoneofthemostdesirableresidencesinthecity；somotioningtothemanwhohadaccompaniedmetotakehisstandinadoorwaynearbyandwatchforthesignalIwouldgivehimincaseIwantedMr。Gryce，Iturnedtothewoman，whowasnowallinaflutter，andaskedherhowsheproposedtogetmeintothehousewithouttheknowledgeofMr。Blake。
\"Osir，allyouhavegottodoistofollowmerightupthebackstairs；hewon\'tnotice，orifhedoeswillnotaskanyquestions。\"
Andhavingbythistimereachedthebasementdoor，shetookoutakeyfromherpocketandinsertingitinthelock，atonceadmittedusintothedwelling。
AFEWPOINTS
Mrs。Daniels，forthatwashername，tookmeatonceupstairstothethirdstorybackroom。Aswepassedthroughthehalls，Icouldnotbutnoticehowrich，thoughsombreweretheoldfashionedwallsandheavilyfrescoedceilings，sodifferentinstyleandcoloringfromwhatweseenow-a-daysinoursecretpenetrationsintoFifthAvenuemansions。ManyasarethewealthyhousesIhavebeencalledupontoenterinthelineofmyprofession，Ihadnevercrossedthethresholdofsuchanoneasthisbefore，andimperviousasIamtoanyfoolishsentimentalities，Ifeltacertaindegreeofaweatthethoughtofinvadingwithpoliceinvestigation，thishomeofancientKnicker-bockerrespectability。Butonceintheroomofthemissinggirl，everyconsiderationfledsavethatofprofessionalprideandcuriosity。Foralmostatfirstblush，IsawthatwhetherMrs。Danielswascorrectornotinhersurmisesastothemannerofthegirl\'sdisappearance，thefactthatshehaddisappearedwaslikelytoproveanaffairofsomeimportance。For，letmestatethefactsintheorderinwhichInoticedthem。Thefirstthingthatimpressedmewas，thatwhateverMrs。Danielscalledher，thiswasnosewinggirl\'sroomintowhichInowstepped。Plainaswasthefurnitureincomparisonwiththeelaboraterichnessofthewallsandceiling，therewerestillscatteredthroughtheroom，whichwaslargeevenforathirtyfoothouse，articlesofsufficientelegancetomakethesuppositionthatitwastheabodeofanordinaryseamstressopentosuspicion，ifnomore。
Mrs。Daniels，seeingmylookofsurprise，hastenedtoprovidesomeexplanation。\"Itistheroomwhichhasalwaysbeendevotedtosewing，\"saidshe；\"andwhenEmilycame，Ithoughtitwouldbeeasiertoputupabedherethantosendherupstairs。Shewasaverynicegirlanddisarrangednothing。\"
Iglancedaroundonthewriting-caselyingopenonasmalltableinthecentreoftheroom，onthevasehalffullofpartlywitheredroses，onthemantel-piece，theShakspeare，andMacaulay\'sHistorylyingonthestandatmyright，thoughtmyownthoughts，butsaidnothing。
\"Youfoundthedoorlockedthismorning?\"askedI，afteramoment\'sscrutinyoftheroominwhichthreefactshadbecomemanifest:first，thatthegirlhadnotoccupiedthebedthenightbefore；second，thattherehadbeensomesortofstruggleorsurprise，——oneofthecurtainsbeingviolentlytornasifgraspedbyanagitatedhand，tosaynothingofachairlyingupsetonthefloorwithoneofitslegsbroken；third，thatthedeparture，strangeasitmayseem，hadbeenbythewindow。
\"Yes，\"returnedshe；\"butthereisapassagewayleadingfrommyroomtohersanditwasbythatmeansweentered。Therewasachairplacedagainstthedooronthissidebutweeasilypusheditaway。\"
Isteppedtothewindowandlookedout。Ah，itwouldnotbesoverydifficultforamantogainthestreetfromthatspotinadarknight，fortheroofofthenewly-erectedextensionwasalmostonalevelwiththewindow。\"
\"Well，\"saidsheanxiously，\"couldn\'tshehavebeengotoutthatway?\"
\"Moredifficultthingshavebeendone，\"saidI；andwasabouttostepoutupontheroofwhenIbethoughttoinquireofMrs。Danielsifanyofthegirl\'sclothingwasmissing。
Sheimmediatelyflewtotheclosetsandthencetobureaudrawerswhichsheturnedhastilyover。\"No，nothingismissingbutahatandcloakand——\"Shepausedconfusedly。
\"Andwhat?\"Iasked。
\"Nothing，\"returnedshe，hurriedlyclosingthebureaudrawer；\"onlysomelittleknick-knacks。\"
\"Knick-knacks!\"quothI。\"Ifshestoppedforknick-knacks，shecouldn\'thavegoneinanyveryunwillingframeofmind。\"Andsomewhatdisgusted，Iwasabouttothrowupthewholeaffairandleavetheroom。ButtheindecisioninMrs。Daniels\'ownfacedeterredme。
\"Idon\'tunderstandit，\"murmuredshe，drawingherhandacrosshereyes。\"Idon\'tunderstandit。But，\"shewentonwithevenanincreaseinheroldtoneofheart-feltconviction，\"nomatterwhetherweunderstanditornot，thecaseisserious；Itellyouso，andshemustbefound。\"
Iresolvedtoknowthenatureofthatmust，usedasfewwomeninherpositionwoulduseitevenundercircumstancestoallappearancemoreaggravatedthanthese。
Why，must?\"saidI。\"Ifthegirlwentofherownaccordassomethingsseemtoshow，whyshouldyou，norelativeasyouacknowledgetakethemattersotoheartastoinsistsheshallbefollowedandbroughtback?\"
Sheturnedaway，uneasilytakingupandputtingdownsomelittlemattersonthetablebeforeher。\"IsitnotenoughthatIpromisetopayforallexpenseswhichasearchwilloccasion，withoutmybeingforcedtodeclarejustwhyIshouldbewillingtodoso?AmIboundtotellyouIlovethegirl?thatIbelieveshehasbeentakenawaybyfoulmeans，andthattohergreatsufferinganddistress?thatbeingfondofherandbelievingthis，IamconscientiousenoughtoputeverymeansIpossessatthecommandofthosewhowillrecoverher?\"
Iwasnotsatisfiedwiththisbutonthatveryaccountfeltmyenthusiasmrevive。
\"ButMr。Blake?Surelyheistheonetotakethisinterestifanybody。\"
\"Ihavebeforesaid，\"returnedshe，palinghoweverasshespoke，\"thatMr。Blaketakesverylittleinterestinhisservants。\"
Icastanotherglanceabouttheroom。\"Howlonghaveyoubeeninthishouse?\"askedI。
\"IwasintheserviceofMr。Blake\'sfatherandhediedayearago。\"
\"SincewhenyouhaveremainedwithMr。Blakehimself?\"
\"Yessir。\"
\"AndthisEmily，whendidshecomehere?\"
\"Ohitmustbeelevenmonthsorsoago。\"
\"AnIrishgirl?\"
\"Ono，American。Sheisnotacommonperson，sir，\"
\"Whatdoyoumeanbythat?Thatshewaseducated，lady-like，pretty，orwhat?\"
\"Idon\'tknowwhattosay。Shewaseducated，yes，butnotasyouwouldcallaladyeducated。Yetsheknewagreatmanythingstherestofusdid\'nt。Shelikedtoread，yousee，and——Osir，askthegirlsabouther，IneverknowwhattosaywhenIamquestioned。\"
Iscannedthegray-hairedwomanstillmoreintentlythanIhadyetdone。Wasshetheweakcommon-placecreaturesheseemed，orhadshereallysomecauseotherthanappearedforthesehernumerousbreaksandhesitations。
\"Wheredidyougetthisgirl?\"Iinquired。\"Wheredidshelivebeforecominghere?\"
\"Icannotsay，Ineveraskedhertotalkaboutherself。ShecametomeforworkandIlikedherandtookherwithoutrecommendation。\"
\"Andshehasservedyouwell?\"
\"Excellently。\"
\"Beenoutmuch?Hadanyvisitors?\"
Sheshookherhead。\"Neverwentoutandneverhadanyvisitors。\"
IownIwasnonplussed，\"Well，\"saidI，\"nomoreofthisatpresent。I
mustfirstfindoutifsheleftthishousealoneorincompanywithothers。\"AndwithoutfurtherparleyIsteppedoutupontheroofoftheextension。
AsIdidsoIdebatedwithmyselfwhetherthecasewarrantedmeornotinsendingforMr。Gryce。Asyettherewasnothingtoshowthatthegirlhadcometoanyharm。Amereelopementwithorwithoutalovertohelpher，wasnotsuchaseriousmatterthatthewholepoliceforceneedbestirreduponthesubject；andifthewomanhadmoney，asshesaid，readytogivethemanwhoshoulddiscoverthewhereaboutsofthisgirl，whyneedthatmoneybedividedupanymorethanwasnecessary。YetGrycewasnotonetobedalliedwith。Hehadsaid，sendforhimiftheaffairseemedtocallforhisjudgment，andsomehowtheaffairdidpromisetobeatriflecomplicated。IwasyetundeterminedwhenIreachedtheedgeoftheroof。
Itwasadizzydescent，butoncemade，escapefromtheyardbeneathwouldbeeasy。Amancouldtakethatroadwithoutdifficulty；butawoman!BaffledattheideaIturnedthoughtfullyback，whenIbeheldsomethingontheroofbeforemethatcausedmetopauseandaskmyselfifthiswasgoingtoturnouttobeatragedyafterall。Itwasadropofcongealedblood。Furtherontowardsthewindowwasanother，andyes，furtherstill，anotherandanother。Ievenfoundoneupontheverywindowledgeitself。Boundingintotheroom，Isearchedthecarpetforfurthertraces。ItwastheworstoneintheworldtofindanythinguponofthenatureofwhichIwasseeking，beingaconfusedpatternofmingleddrabandred，andinmydifficultyIhadtostoopverylow。
\"Whatareyoulookingfor?\"criedMrs。Daniels。
Ipointedtothedroponthewindowsill。\"Doyouseethat?\"Iasked。
Sheutteredanexclamationandbentnearer。\"Blood!\"criedshe，andstoodstaring，withrapidlypalingcheeksandtremblingform。\"Theyhavekilledherandhewillnever——\"
AsshedidnotfinishIlookedup。
\"Doyouthinkitwasherblood?\"shewhisperedinahorrifiedtone。
\"Thereiseveryreasontobelieveso，\"rejoinedI，pointingtoaspotwhereIhadatlastdiscoverednotonlyonecrimsondropbutmany，scatteredoverthescarcelyredderrosesundermyfeet。
\"Ah，itisworsethanIthought，\"murmuredshe。\"Whatareyougoingtodo?Whatcanwedo?
\"Iamgoingtosendforanotherdetective，\"returnedI；andsteppingtothewindowItelegraphedatoncetothemanHarristogoforMr。
Gryce。
\"TheonewesawattheStation?\"
Ibowedassent。
Herfacelostsomethingofitsdrawnexpression。\"OIamglad；Hewilldosomething。\"
Subduingmyindignationatthisbackthrust，Iemployedmytimeintakingnoteofsuchdetailsashadescapedmypreviousattention。
Theywerenotmany。Theopenwriting-desk——inwhich，howeverIfoundnolettersorwrittendocumentsofanykind，onlyafewsheetsofpaper，withpen，ink，etc。；thebrushandhairpinsscatteredonthebureauasthoughthegirlhadbeeninterruptedwhilearrangingherhairifshehadbeeninterrupted；andtheabsenceofanygreatpileofworksuchasonewouldexpecttoseeinaroomsetapartforsewing，wereallIcoulddiscover。Notmuchtohelpus，incasethiswastoproveanaffairofimportanceasIbegantosuspect。
WithMr。Gryce\'sarrival，however，thingssoonassumedabettershape。
Hecametothebasementdoor，wasusheredinbyyourhumbleservant，hadthewholematterasfarasIhadinvestigatedit，athisfinger-endsinamoment，andwasup-stairsandinthatroombeforeI，whoamcalledthequickestmanintheforceasyouallknow，couldhavetimetodeterminejustwhatdifferencehispresencewouldmaketomeinapecuniarywayineventofMrs。Daniels\'promisesamountingtoanything。Hedidnotremaintherelong，butwhenhecamedownIsawthathisinterestwasinnowiselessened。
\"Whatkindofalookinggirlwasthis?\"heasked，hurryinguptoMrs。
Danielswhohadwithdrawnintoarecessinthelowerhallwhileallthiswasgoingon。\"Describehertome，hair，eyes，complexion，etc。；
youknow。\"
\"I——I——don\'tknowasIcan，\"shestammeredreluctantly，turningveryredintheface。\"Iamapooronefornoticing。Iwillcalloneofthegirls，I——\"Shewasgonebeforewerealizedshehadnotfinishedhersentence。
\"Humph!\"brokefromMr。Gryce\'slipsashethoughtfullytookdownavasethatstoodonabracketnearbyandlookedintoit。
Ididnotventureaword。
WhenMrs。Danielscamebackshehadwithheratrim-lookinggirlofprepossessingappearance。
\"ThisisFanny，\"saidshe；\"sheknowsEmilywell，beinginthehabitofwaitingonherattable；shewilltellyouwhatyouwanttohear。
Ihaveexplainedtoher，\"shewenton，noddingtowardsMr。Grycewithacomposuresuchasshehadnotbeforedisplayed；\"thatyouarelookingforyourniecewhoranawayfromhomesometimeagotogointosomesortofservice。\"
\"Certainly，ma\'am，\"quoththatgentleman，bowingwithmockadmirationtothegas-fixture。Thencarelesslyshiftinghisglancetothecleaning-clothwhichFannyheldratherconspicuouslyinherhand，herepeatedthequestionhehadalreadyputtoMrs。Daniels。
Thegirl，tossingherheadjustatrifle，atoncereplied:
\"Oshewasgood-lookingenough，ifthatiswhatyoumean，forthemaslikesagirlwithcheeksaswhiteasthisclothwasaforeIrubbedthespoonswithit。Asforhereyes，theywasblackerthanherhair，whichwastheBlackestIeversee。Shehadnofleshatall，andasforherfigure——\"Fannyglanceddownonherownwelldevelopedperson，andgaveashruginexpressiblysuggestive。
\"Isthisdescriptiontrue?\"Mr。Gryceasked，seeminglyofMrs。
Daniels，thoughhisgazerestedwithcuriousintentnessonthegirl\'sheadwhichwascoveredwithalittlecap。
\"Sufficientlyso，\"returnedMrs。Danielsinaverylowtone，however。
Thenwithasuddendisplayofenergy，\"Emily\'sfigureisnotwhatyouwouldcallplump。Ihaveseenher——\"ShebrokeoffasifalittlestartledatherselfandmotionedFannytogo。
\"Waitamoment，\"interposedMr。Gryceinhissoftway。\"Yousaidthegirl\'shairandeyesweredark；weretheydarkerthanyours?\"
\"O，yessir；\"repliedthegirlsimpering，asshesettledtheribbonsonhercap。
\"Letmeseeyourhair。\"
Shetookoffhercapwithasmile。
\"Ha，verypretty，verypretty。Andtheothergirls?YouhaveothergirlsIsuppose?\"
\"Two，sir；\"returnedMrs。Daniels。
\"Howabouttheircomplexions?AretheylightertoothanEmily\'s?\"