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Reade, Charles, 1814-1884

"A Woman-Hater"

I may
add, to complete the picture, that she had a way of turning this head,
clean, swift, and birdlike, without turning her body. That familiar
action of hers was fine--so full of fire and intelligence.
Zoe settled in one moment that she was downright plain, but might
probably be that mysterious and incomprehensible and dangerous creature,
"a gentleman's beauty," which, to women, means no beauty at all, but a
witch-like creature, that goes and hits foul, and eclipses real
beauty--dolls, to wit--by some mysterious magic.
"Pray sit down," said Zoe, formally. Rhoda sat down, and hesitated a
moment. She felt a frost.
Vizard helped her, "Miss Gale has heard from her mother."
"Yes, Miss Vizard," said Rhoda, timidly; "and very bad news. She cannot
come at present; and I am so distressed at what I have done in borrowing
that money of you; and see, I have spent nearly three pounds of it in
dress; but I have brought the rest back."
Zoe looked at her brother, perplexed.
"Stuff and nonsense!" said Vizard. "You will not take it, Zoe."
"Oh, yes; if you please, do," said Rhoda still to Zoe. "When I borrowed
it, I felt sure I could repay it; but it is not so now.


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