Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           EvenAnnixtercouldnothelpnoticingthatherfeetwerenarrowandslender,andthatthelittlesteelbucklesofherlowshoeswerepolishedbright,andthatherfingertipsandnailswereofafinerosypink.

           HefoundhimselfwonderinghowitwasthatagirlinHilma’spositionshouldbeabletokeepherselfsopretty,sotrim,socleanandfeminine,buthereflectedthatherworkwaschieflyinthedairy,andeventhereofthelightestorder.Shewasontheranchmoreforthesakeofbeingwithherparentsthanfromanynecessityofemployment.Vaguelyheseemedtounderstandthat,inthatgreatnewlandoftheWest,intheopen-air,healthylifeoftheranches,wheretheconditionsofearningalivelihoodwereoftheeasiest,refinementamongtheyoungerwomenwaseasilytobefound—nottherefinementofeducation,norculture,butthenatural,intuitiverefinementofthewoman,notasyetdefiledandcrushedoutbythesordid,strenuouslife-struggleofover-populateddistricts.Itwastheoriginal,intendedandnaturaldelicacyofanelementalexistence,closetonature,closetolife,closetothegreat,kindlyearth.

           AsHilmalaidthetable-spread,herarmsopenedtotheirwidestreach,thewhiteclothsettingalittleglistenofreflectedlightunderneaththechin,Annixterstirredinhisplaceuneasily.

           “Oh,it’syou,isit,MissHilma?”heremarked,forthesakeofsayingsomething.“Good-morning.Howdoyoudo?”

           “Good-morning,sir,”sheanswered,lookingup,restingforamomentonheroutspreadpalms.“Ihopeyouarebetter.