She had come by the back path and, in her noiseless rubber shoes, I had not heard her.
I sprang out of the hammock, loosed the ring from the hook and threw the canvas aside to make way for her.
She appeared a perfect picture of glorious loveliness and contagious health. She did not speak for a moment, but her eyes took me in from head to heel.
I felt confident in the knowledge that the figure I presented was decidedly more pleasing than when last she had seen me.
I was glad, for I knew, even with my small acquaintance with the opposite sex, that the woman is not alive who does not prefer to see a man clean, tidy and neat.
I pushed the store doors open and followed her in.
Again, that bewitching little uplifting of the eyebrows; again the alluring relaxation of her full lips; silent ways, apparently, of expressing her pleasure. The appearance of my store, on this occasion, met with her approval.
She laid aside her sunshade and handed me a long, neatly written list of groceries which she required; not all, but most of which, I was able to fill.
"Make up the bill,—please. I wish to pay it now. I shall not wait until you make up the goods. If not too much trouble, would you——"
I was listening to the soft cadences of her voice, when she stopped.