Nancy came out of Jessie Pease’s cottage one day to see a handsome man in a gray suit, with gray spats, and gray hair, and even a gray silk shirt, walking slowly up the drive toward the Hall. In the shade of the trees (it was a hot day) he removed his gray, broad-brimmed hat. And out of that hat fell his handkerchief.
When Nancy, hastening, picked up this article, she found that it was silk, with a gray border, too, and an initial in one corner. The initial was “M.”
“You dropped this, sir, I think,” she said, timidly, coming abreast of the stranger.
He turned to look at her. He had heavy, smoothly-shaven jowls and not a very healthy complexion. His eyes were little, and green. Nancy had expected to see a very handsome, noble-looking old gentleman. Instead, she saw a very sly-looking man, with something mean and furtive in his manner, despite his fine build and immaculate dress.
“Ah! thank you, thank you, my pretty miss,” he said, accepting the handkerchief. “It is a very warm day.”
“Yes, sir,” responded Nancy, politely.
“And you, I suppose, go to school here at Pinewood?”
“Oh, yes.”
“A beautiful place! A very beautiful place,” said the stranger. “You may be acquainted with a girl named Montgomery, now?”
“Yes, sir,” said Nancy, with gravity.