Mrs. George wondered within herself what he did there among the women . She also wondered just where he belonged on the family tree . He was not one of the uncles , yet he could not be much younger than George . `` Forty , if he is a day , '' was Mrs. George 's mental dictum , `` but a very handsome and fascinating man . I never saw such a splendid chin and dimple . '' Lucinda , with bronze-colored hair and the whitest of skins , defiant of merciless sunlight and revelling in the crisp air , sat on the sill of the open window behind the crimson vine leaves , looking out into the garden , where dahlias flamed and asters broke into waves of purple and snow . The ruddy light of the autumn afternoon gave a sheen to the waves of her hair and brought out the exceeding purity of her Greek outlines . Mrs. George knew who Lucinda was -- a cousin of the second generation , and , in spite of her thirty-five years , the acknowledged beauty of the whole Penhallow connection . She was one of those rare women who keep their loveliness unmarred by the passage of years . She had ripened and matured , but she had not grown old . The older Penhallows were still inclined , from sheer force of habit , to look upon her as a girl , and the younger Penhallows hailed her as one of themselves . Yet Lucinda never aped girlishness ; good taste and a strong sense of humour preserved her amid many temptations thereto . She was simply a beautiful , fully developed woman , with whom Time had declared a truce , young with a mellow youth which had nothing to do with years . Mrs. George liked and admired Lucinda . Now , when Mrs. George liked and admired any person , it was a matter of necessity with her to impart her opinions to the most convenient confidant . In this case it was Romney Penhallow to whom Mrs. George remarked sweetly : `` Really , do n't you think our Lucinda is looking remarkably well this fall ? '' It seemed a very harmless , inane , well-meant question . Poor Mrs. George might well be excused for feeling bewildered over the effect . Romney gathered his long legs together , stood up , and swept the unfortunate speaker a crushing Penhallow bow of state . `` Far be it from me to disagree with the opinion of a lady -- especially when it concerns another lady , '' he said , as he left the blue room .
Overcome XXXXX the mordant satire in his tone , Mrs. George glanced speechlessly at Lucinda .
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