Page:Gissing - The Unclassed, vol. I, 1884.djvu/259

it is vain to endeavour to describe, but which, once looked upon, could never be forgotten. The lower lids seemed to rise a little, causing a half-twinkle which had more of bright intelligence than mere fun. If these were not the windows of a rich and beautiful soul, surely never did eyes so lie. Then the mouth, long but delicate, the upper lip a lovely bow, the lower tremulous with that same indescribable characteristic which dwelt in the corner of her eyes. Low on her forehead, and making a back ground for head and neck, a wonderful mass of the richest and brownest of rich brown hair, in orderly disorder, every lock a miracle of wreathing loveliness. But I have begun a foolish task, and may well prove foolish in my way of seeking to accomplish it. The tenderest and most delicate pencil would fail to give that face as it then was; words are useless even to suggest it, as indeed they always are useless in face-drawing, save when we wish to show you some countenance marked with grotesque deformity, or at all events with features of very pronounced and easily recognizable type. The type I speak of