Seen closer, she was even prettier than at a distance. Her smooth olive skin glistened like satin. Her lips showed roses even more brilliant than those that bloomed in her cheeks. A frown between her eyebrows gave her face almost a sullen look. But to offset this, her white teeth turned her smile into a flash of light. Maida lifted all the tops from the window and placed them on the counter.
“Mind if I try them?” Rosie asked.
“Oh, do.”
Rosie wound one of them with an expert hand. Then with a quick dash forward of her whole arm, she threw the top to the floor. It danced there, humming like a whole hiveful of bees.
“Oh, how lovely!” Maida exclaimed. Then in fervent admiration: “What a wonderful girl you are!”
Rosie smiled. “Easy as pie if you know how. Want to learn?”
“Oh, will you teach me?”
“Sure! Begin now.”
Maida limped from behind the counter. Rosie watched her. Rosie’s face softened with the same pity that had shone on the frightened little dog.
“She’s sorry for me,” Maida thought. “How sweet she looks!”