expression
of strength, which goes back to the contrast between the dark pupil and
the surrounding white, and in turn between this white and the dusky
skin; always, even on the most indifferent occasions, this pregnant
glance, this rolling and melting! "Anyhow," I asked myself one day,
"why have all these people replaced their human eyes with the eyes of
animals?" I began, when on the streets, to look about for light-colored
eyes, for glances which had something of the clearness of the sky or
the wave in spring time, something of the lustre and translucency of a
November mist, something of the keen brilliancy of an ice crystal. I
paid attention once more to the people of the Northern Hemisphere, whom
heretofore I had avoided, and these people of the North are, of course,
mostly Germans.

Now it happened that one morning in those days I was going my way, and,
in order to keep in the shade, sticking as closely as might be to the
houses. Then out of a low window in the ground floor of one of these
houses a hand shot out right before me, holding a dust-cloth, which it
was about to shake; and I should naturally have got the full benefit of
the operation. With a quick grasp I seized the hand by the wrist; and
not until I had so secured myself could I look up to see to whom the
hand belonged. The girl stood inclined somewhat forward, leaning on her
other hand, and stared at me with great startled eyes, the most
transparent, silvery-gleaming eyes that I remember ever to have seen.

I was so surprised that I lost all my audacity; but I still kept a firm
hold of her hand. And so she was after all the first to recover her
power of speech, and she said, "Pardon me."

"On the contrary, I thank you," I replied, rising on my toes, kissing
her hand, and then releasing it.

She made no answer, her expression became troubled, she struggled with
herself, her eyes filled with tears, and I felt that I had done
violence to an innocent heart. That pained me and I blurted out, "Shake
the cloth in my face! I have offended you. It was not my intention; but
let me have my punishment."

"Not for the world!" she responded. "How can a man say such a thing!"

I looked at her in amazement and curiosity. Was that meant to be a
reprimand? Did she strike a blow and pretend the while to put far away
from her any such intention? No. Her eyes beamed appeasement and also
appeasingly; surrendering myself to her, I had disarmed her resentment.
Neverthel