That child, for example, has beautiful eyes
but a badly-cut mouth, Here is one that would be pretty, if the face
was rounded out; and here is a child, Heaven help it! that was
designed to be beautiful, but want and unfavorable circumstances
have pinched and cramped it."
It was at this point in the artist's soliloquy that, in turning the
corner of a street, he came upon Peg and Ida.
Henry Bowen looked earnestly at the child's face, and his own
lighted up with pleasure, as one who stumbles upon success just as
he has despaired of it.
"The very face I have been looking for!" he exclaimed to himself.
"My flower-girl is found at last!"
He turned round, and followed Ida and her companion. Both stopped at
a shop-window to examine some articles which were exhibited there.
This afforded a fresh opportunity to examine Ida's face.
"It is precisely what I want," he murmured. "Now the question comes
up, whether this woman, who, I suppose, is the girl's attendant,
will permit me to copy her face."
The artist's inference that Peg was merely Ida's attendant, was
natural, since the child was dressed in a style quite superior to
her companion. Peg thought that in this way she should be more
likely to escape suspicion when occupied in passing spurious coin.
The young man followed the strangely-assorted pair to the apartments
which Peg occupied.
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