V.
The eyes of the baroness took in Jenny’s appearance at first with equanimity; but her peace of mind was very soon ruffled with surprise. That was no mere “agreeable exterior”—words that in the description of a serving-girl generally mean to say, “She is not downright plain,” or, “There is nothing particularly disagreeable in her appearance.” But this young lady was not only “agreeable” to look at, she was actually handsome; one might even stretch a point and call her beautiful. She was small in stature, but her figure was charming, her eyes dark and expressive, and her mouth perfect, like one of those painted by Mánes. She wore her raven-black wavy hair cut short, and her hands and feet were aristocratically small. She was attired in a dark-green dress, very simple, but tasteful. She presented herself very modestly, and begged her ladyship the baroness to confer her kind favour upon her, as that was her first and chief desire on entering upon her duties in such a noble family.
The baroness bent her head theatrically, heard her to the end with condescension, and then paused a good while, after Jenny had ceased speaking, without making any reply. At first she merely exchanged some superficial phrases with her, and kept her standing a good while
