Крестный отец

           Hissmashedfacedidnotmakehimasevil-lookingashebelieved;becausehisotherprofilewassohandsomeitmadethedisfigurementinterestingeven.Andinanycasethiswasalandwheretobecalleddisfiguredyouhadtocompetewithahostofmenwhohadsufferedextremephysicalmisfortune.

           Michaellookeddirectlyatthegirl,thelovelyovalsofherface.Herlipsnowhecouldseewerealmostbluesodarkwasthebloodpulsatinginthem.Hesaid,notdaringtospeakhername,"Isawyoubytheorangegrovestheotherday.Whenyouranaway.IhopeIdidn’tfrightenyou?"

           Thegirlraisedhereyestohimforjustafraction.Sheshookherhead.ButthelovelinessofthoseeyeshadmadeMichaellookaway.Themothersaidtartly,"Apollonia,speaktothepoorfellow,he’scomemilestoseeyou,"butthegirl’slongjetlashesremainedclosedlikewingsoverhereyes.Michaelhandedherthepresentwrappedingoldpaperandthegirlputitinherlap.Thefathersaid,"Openit,girl,"butherhandsdidnotmove.Herhandsweresmallandbrown,anurchin’shands.Themotherreachedoverandopenedthepackageimpatiently,yetcarefulnottotearthepreciouspaper.Theredvelvetjeweler’sboxgaveherpause,shehadneverheldsuchathinginherhandsanddidn’tknowhowtospringitscatch.Butshegotitopenonpureinstinctandthentookoutthepresent.