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Young Irony
"Tellme,"hedemanded,leaningforwardeagerly,"howdoyouknowabout’Ulalume’—howdidyouknowthecolorofmyhair?What’syourname?Whatwereyoudoinghere?Tellmeallatonce!"
SuddenlythelightningflashedinwithaleapofoverreachinglightandhesawEleanor,andlookedforthefirsttimeintothoseeyesofhers.Oh,shewasmagnificent—paleskin,thecolorofmarbleinstarlight,slenderbrows,andeyesthatglitteredgreenasemeraldsintheblindingglare.Shewasawitch,ofperhapsnineteen,hejudged,alertanddreamyandwiththetell-talewhitelineoverherupperlipthatwasaweaknessandadelight.Hesankbackwithagaspagainstthewallofhay.
"Nowyou’veseenme,"shesaidcalmly,"andIsupposeyou’reabouttosaythatmygreeneyesareburningintoyourbrain."
"Whatcolorisyourhair?"heaskedintently."It’sbobbed,isn’tit?"
"Yes,it’sbobbed.Idon’tknowwhatcoloritis,"sheanswered,musing,"somanymenhaveaskedme.It’smedium,Isuppose—Nooneeverlookslongatmyhair.I’vegotbeautifuleyes,though,haven’tI.Idon’tcarewhatyousay,Ihavebeautifuleyes."
"Answermyquestion,Madeline."
"Don’trememberthemall—besidesmynameisn’tMadeline,it’sEleanor."
"Imighthaveguessedit.YoulooklikeEleanor—youhavethatEleanorlook.YouknowwhatImean."
Therewasasilenceastheylistenedtotherain.
"It’sgoingdownmyneck,fellowlunatic,"sheofferedfinally.
"Answermyquestions."