I looked at her; I saw a slipshod permanet crumpling her hair into a shapeless mass of curls; I saw a brown overcoat, pitifully threadbare and a bit too shot; I saw a face both unobtrusively attractive and attractively unobtrusive; I sensed in this young woman tranquillity, simplicity and modesty, and I felt that these were qualities I needed; moreover, it seemed to me that we were very much akin: all I had to do was to go up and start talking to her and she would smile as if a long-lost brother had suddenly appeared before her.
The narrator describes a young woman with a disordered hairstyle, a worn-out brown overcoat, and an ambivalent yet appealing face. Despite her less-than-perfect appearance, the narrator perceives a deep tranquility, simplicity, and modesty in her presence. These qualities resonate with him, suggesting a connection he yearns for in his life.
This sense of kinship leads the narrator to feel an urge to approach her, imagining that she would welcome him warmly, as if recognizing a long-lost sibling. The encounter symbolizes a longing for connection and understanding, highlighting the profound impact that simple, genuine traits can have on one’s spirit.
