The notorious battle of the sexes was assuredly carried
on by her in a spirit of frank muscular gaiety--she could, I am
sure, do her share of fighting. Put her in a boat on the bosom of
the lake under starlight, and she would not by a gesture, a tone,
a glance, convey mysterious nothings to you, a male. She would not
be subtly changed by the sensuous influences of the situation; she
would always be the same plump and earthly piece of candour. Even
if she were in love with you, she would not convey mysterious
nothings in such circumstances. If she were in love with you she
would most clearly convey unmysterious and solid somethings. I was
convinced that the contributing cause to the presence of the late
Simon Fuge in the boat on Ilam Lake on the historic night was
Annie the superior barmaid, and not Sally of the automobile. But
Mrs Colclough, if not beautiful, was a very agreeable creation.
Her amplitude gave at first sight an exaggerated impression of her
age; but this departed after more careful inspection. She could
not have been more than thirty. She was very dark, with plenteous
and untidy black hair, thick eyebrows, and a slight moustache. Her
eyes were very vivacious, and her gestures, despite that bulk,
quick and graceful. She was happy; her ideals were satisfied; it
was probably happiness that had made her stout.
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