havebeenchiseledoutofcold,hardrodtherewasaslightcoatingofuedwhitefrostonhisfingers,butotherthanthattheIsappearancewasntmuchdifferentfromanormalperson.Whileheprobablycouldnthavebeencalledhandsome,therewasundeniablysomethingcharminginhisbearing.Therearesomepeoplethatjustjabyousharplyintheheart.Iteciallythiswaywithhim,sohereallystoodout.Hehadashy,transparentlook,likeaniciawinterm.Therewassomethinginthewayhisbodyuttogetherthatmadehiswholebeiosparkle.IstoodthereforamomentandgazedattheIfromafar.ButtheIdidntlifthisfahisbookevehoutmovingsomuchasamuscle,hetinuedreading.Itwasasifhewastryingtopersuadehimselfthattherewasntanybodyatallaroundhim.

    Theday,theIwasinthesameplace,readingabookexactlythesameway.WheothecafeteriatogetlundagainwhenIcamebatheeveningfromskiingwitheverybodyelse,hewassittinginthesamechairasthedaybefore,poverthetopofapageofthesamebookwiththesameexpressiononhisfadthedaywasthesame.Thedaypassed,thenightgrewlate,ahereasquietlyasthewisidethewindow,readinghisbookalone.

    Oernoonofthefourthday,Ifashionedanappropriateexcuseanddidntgoouttotheslopes.Stayingbehindalohehotel,Iwanderedaroundthelobbyforawhile.Sinceeveryonehadgoforanafternoonskiing,thelobbywasdesertedlikeaghosttown.Theairinthelobbywasunnecessarilywarmandmoist,andtherewasastrange,danksmellmixedinwithit.Itwasthesmellofpeopletragsnowintothehoteloomoftheirbootsandthencarelesslysittingbythefireplace,whereitslowlymeltedoff.Istaredvatlyoutthevariouswindows,andflippedthroughtheneer.Then,bravelywalkinguptotheI,Ibold