He noticed instantly that she had either scrubbed or spelled off the ever-present ink stains from her hands. In fact, after taking in her entire form with a sweeping glance (softly curling hair, clingy gossamer dress robes, delicate slippers), his eyes were drawn immediately back to her hands. They lighted like doves on the marble railing after swooping in the air as she made some observation or another to him. She was wearing pearlescent nail varnish and he stared at it, enthralled, knowing he would not tell her that her fingertips resembled nothing more in the moonlight than tiny stars.