Mrs. Bentley was a plump , rosy-cheeked woman with a motherly smile . Agnes was a fair , slim schoolgirl , as tall as her mother , with a sweet face and a promise of peach blossom prettiness in the years to come . The arrival of a summer boarder was a great event in her quiet life . `` Ai n't she pretty ? '' whispered Mrs. Bentley admiringly , as the girl came slowly up the green slope before the house . `` I do hope she 's nice . You can generally calculate on men boarders , but girls are doubtful . Preserve me from a cranky boarder ! I 've had enough of them . I kinder like her looks , though . '' Ethel Lennox had paused at the front door as Mrs. Bentley and Agnes came into the hall . Agnes gazed at the stranger with shy , unenvious admiration ; the latter stood on the stone step just where the big chestnut by the door cast flickering gleams and shadows over her dress and shining hair . She was tall , and gowned in some simple white material that fell about her in graceful folds . She wore a cluster of pale pink roses at her belt , and a big , picturesque white hat shaded her face and the glossy , clinging masses of her red hair -- hair that was neither auburn nor chestnut but simply red . Nor would anyone have wished it otherwise , having once seen that glorious mass , with all its wonderful possibilities of rippling luxuriance . Her complexion was of that perfect , waxen whiteness that goes with burnished red hair and the darkest of dilated violet eyes . Her delicately chiselled features wore what might have been a somewhat too decided impress of spirit and independence , had it not been for the sweet mouth , red and dimpled and curving , that parted in a slow , charming smile as Mrs. Bentley came forward with her kindly welcome . `` You must be real tired , Miss Lennox . It 's a long drive from the train down here . Agnes , show Miss Lennox up to her room , and tea will be ready when you come down . ''
Agnes came forward with the shy grace that always won friends for her , and the two girls went slowly XXXXX the broad , old-fashioned staircase , while Mrs. Bentley bustled away to bring in the tea and put a goblet of damask roses on the table .
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