Chapter 7

           WhenConniewentuptoherbedroomshedidwhatshehadnotdoneforalongtime:tookoffallherclothes,andlookedatherselfnakedinthehugemirror.Shedidnotknowwhatshewaslookingfor,orat,verydefinitely,yetshemovedthelamptillitshonefullonher.

           Andshethought,asshehadthoughtsooften,whatafrail,easilyhurt,ratherpatheticthingahumanbodyis,naked;somehowalittleunfinished,incomplete!

           Shehadbeensupposedtohaveratheragoodfigure,butnowshewasoutoffashion:alittletoofemale,notenoughlikeanadolescentboy.Shewasnotverytall,abitScottishandshort;butshehadacertainfluent,down-slippinggracethatmighthavebeenbeauty.Herskinwasfaintlytawny,herlimbshadacertainstillness,herbodyshouldhavehadafull,down-slippingrichness;butitlackedsomething.

           Insteadofripeningitsfirm,down-runningcurves,herbodywasflatteningandgoingalittleharsh.Itwasasifithadnothadenoughsunandwarmth;itwasalittlegreyishandsapless.

           Disappointedofitsrealwomanhood,ithadnotsucceededinbecomingboyish,andunsubstantial,andtransparent;insteadithadgoneopaque.

           Herbreastswererathersmall,anddroppingpear-shaped.Buttheywereunripe,alittlebitter,withoutmeaninghangingthere.Andherbellyhadlostthefresh,roundgleamithadhadwhenshewasyoung,inthedaysofherGermanboy,whoreallylovedherphysically.Thenitwasyoungandexpectant,withareallookofitsown.Nowitwasgoingslack,andalittleflat,thinner,butwithaslackthinness.