Quote by Thomas Hardy
She had not heard him enter, and hardly realized his presence there. She was yawning, and he saw the red interior of her mouth as if it had been a snake's. She had stretched one arm so high above her coiled-up cable of hair that he could see its satin delicacy above the sunburn; her face was flushed with sleep, and her eyelids hung heavy over their pupils. The brim-fulness of her nature breathed from her. It was a moment when a woman's soul is more incarnate than at any other time; when the most spiritual beauty bespeaks itself flesh; and sex takes the outside place in the presentation.
Summary
This quote describes a moment that captures the essence of a woman's presence and beauty. The speaker enters and observes the woman, who seems unaware of his presence. She yawns, revealing the interior of her mouth, which is compared to that of a snake. Her physical features, like her stretched arm, sunburned skin, and flushed face, indicate her connection to her earthly and sensual nature. This moment signifies a time when a person's innermost self becomes more alive and tangible, when their spiritual and physical beauty merge to showcase their sexuality outwardly.
By Thomas Hardy