Mr. Teddy Henfrey’s First Impressions

           Atfouro'clock,whenitwasfairlydarkandMrs.Hallwasscrewinguphercouragetogoinandaskhervisitorifhewouldtakesometea,TeddyHenfrey,theclock-jobber,cameintothebar. "Mysakes!Mrs.Hall,"saidhe,"butthisisterribleweatherforthinboots!" Thesnowoutsidewasfallingfaster. 

           Mrs.Hallagreed,andthennoticedhehadhisbagwithhim. "Nowyou'rehere,Mr.Teddy,"saidshe,"I'dbegladifyou'dgiveth'oldclockintheparlourabitofalook. 'Tisgoing,anditstrikeswellandhearty;butthehour-handwon'tdonuthin'butpointatsix." 

           Andleadingtheway,shewentacrosstotheparlourdoorandrappedandentered. 

           Hervisitor,shesawassheopenedthedoor,wasseatedinthearmchairbeforethefire,dozingitwouldseem,withhisbandagedheaddroopingononeside. Theonlylightintheroomwastheredglowfromthefire—whichlithiseyeslikeadverserailwaysignals,butlefthisdowncastfaceindarkness—andthescantyvestigesofthedaythatcameinthroughtheopendoor. Everythingwasruddy,shadowy,andindistincttoher,themoresosinceshehadjustbeenlightingthebarlamp,andhereyesweredazzled. Butforaseconditseemedtoherthatthemanshelookedathadanenormousmouthwideopen—avastandincrediblemouththatswallowedthewholeofthelowerportionofhisface. Itwasthesensationofamoment:thewhite-boundhead,themonstrousgoggleeyes,andthishugeyawnbelowit. Thenhestirred,startedupinhischair,putuphishand. Sheopenedthedoorwide,sothattheroomwaslighter,andshesawhimmoreclearly,withthemufflerhelduptohisfacejustasshehadseenhimholdtheserviettebefore. Theshadows,shefancied,hadtrickedher.