Anne Warner

“ The costly rings and bracelets fell one by one from her fat fingers, the fingers became slenderer, and then, after a while, into her small, pig-like eyes there crept a new expression, an expression of pleading and sympathy—the old desire for love played now in the minor key of humanity's need. ”

“ She never saw cold bare feet in the street without feeling her own feet stinging and swelling upon the stony, biting road. She never saw pride behind an outstretched hand without seeing herself begging, knowing that a man with a stick waited behind the tree or around the corner. ”

“ When they were beautiful the ugly old woman with the curious spiritual kindness alight on her shapeless features used to look at them wistfully, yearningly, not because she was so ugly herself, but because her child—the only child she had ever borne—had been so fair. ”

“ He is always measuring me with his eyes. And there is Rudolph, too. When he speaks to me it is kindly enough meant, but he touches me, he lays his hand on my shoulder, he calls me 'my dear' and 'little one,' and then he looks at Etienne, and the way they look frightens me.”
“It is all acting,” said Elzika again. ”

“ IT was a pitifully plain room, the kind of room in which a man and a woman whose whole life and every penny have been pressed out to one end may spend their evenings, still working, still pressing out a little more life, a few more pennies. ”

“ And her eyes were full and blue, and her chin was a chin that quivered easily. A woman who has a battle to fight should have a broad, straight line from her ear down, or the battle will make for defeat. Elzika knew that and sighed.
The pupil came and stooped beside her mistress, taking her hand and carrying it to her lips with the easy grace of one whose training has been well pushed along all lines.
“Well, little one,” said the Gipsy, smiling, “so we each have news to tell. I had your letter when you had mine. Will you wager that my news is not the better?” ”