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6. The Heads of Langwidere
ThenoseswereGrecian,Roman,retrousseandOriental,representingalltypesofbeauty;andthemouthswereofassortedsizesandshapes,displayingpearlyteethwhentheheadssmiled.Asfordimples,theyappearedincheeksandchins,wherevertheymightbemostcharming,andoneortwoheadshadfrecklesuponthefacestocontrastthebetterwiththebrilliancyoftheircomplexions.
Onekeyunlockedallthevelvetcupboardscontainingthesetreasures--acuriouskeycarvedfromasingleblood-redruby--andthiswasfastenedtoastrongbutslenderchainwhichthePrincessworearoundherleftwrist.
WhenNandahadsupportedLangwideretoapositioninfrontofcupboardNo.17,thePrincessunlockedthedoorwithherrubykeyandafterhandingheadNo.9,whichshehadbeenwearing,tothemaid,shetookNo.17fromitsshelfandfittedittoherneck.Ithadblackhairanddarkeyesandalovelypearl-and-whitecomplexion,andwhenLangwidereworeitsheknewshewasremarkablybeautifulinappearance.
TherewasonlyonetroublewithNo.17;thetemperthatwentwithit(andwhichwashiddensomewhereundertheglossyblackhair)wasfiery,harshandhaughtyintheextreme,anditoftenledthePrincesstodounpleasantthingswhichsheregrettedwhenshecametowearherotherheads.
Butshedidnotrememberthistoday,andwenttomeetherguestsinthedrawing-roomwithafeelingofcertaintythatshewouldsurprisethemwithherbeauty.
