she had been. She was animated, even a touch of vivaciousness about her; color had crept into her face
and all vagueness gone from her eyes; in them was a sparkle, faintly mocking, more than faintly malicious.
I examined the dolls.
"They are lovely," I said at last. "But are these the best you have? Frankly, this is rather an especial
occasion-my granddaughter's seventh birthday. The price doesn't really matter as long, of course, as it is
in reason-"
I heard her sigh. I looked at her. The pale eyes held their olden fear-touched stare, all sparkling mockery
gone. The color had fled her face. And again, abruptly, I felt the unseen gaze upon me, more powerfully
than before. And again I felt it shuttered off.
The door beside the counter opened.