How can I describe her? How can I separate this moment from all that has happened since then? In drawing I later made of her she appears as a light, youthful figure wearing a simple white and blue striped dress and a summer hat. Her hair is light brown, almost gold, and she has eyes that are clear and blue, with a look of truth in them. They give her whole face such a charm that it is difficult to notice each individual feature: the delicate, though not perfectly straight, nose; the sweet, sensitive mouth. The life and beauty of her face lies in her eyes.
Such was my impression, but at the same time I felt there was something about her that I could not explain- something that I ought to remember, but could not. In fact, I was thinking about this so much that I could hardly answer when she greeted me.
Miss Halcombe, believing I was shy, quickly said,'Look at your perfect student,' and she pointed at the sketches. 'She has already started work before your lessons have begun. You must show them to Mr Hartright, Laura, when we go for a drive.'
Miss Fairlie laughed with bright good humour.
'I hope he willgive his true opinion of them and not just say something to please me,' she said.
'May I enquire why you say that?' I asked.
'Because I shall believe all that you tell me,' she answered simply.
In those few words she gave me the key to her own trusting, truthful character.
Later we went for our promised deive, but I must confess that I was far more interested in Miss Fairlie' s conversation than her sketches. I soon realiEd I was behaving more like a guest than a drawing teacher and when I was on my own again I felt uneasy and dissatisfied with myself.
At dinner that evening these feelings soon disappeared, and when the meal was over, we went into a large sitting room with glass doors leading into the garden. Mrs Vesey fell asleep in an armchair and Miss Halcombe sat near a window to look through her mother's letters. At my request Miss Fairlie played the piano.