in the still life of the hundred-year-old college library , under the enormous chandelier , which swayed at a barely noticeable pace to the gusts of wind outside , and twinkled when the sun reached it at the right angle in the afternoon hours , she would read and make volumes of notes in her favorite corner , often alone , next to the periodicals aisle , and offer a smile to him with her sparkling emerald eyes , behind unimaginably long , flashing lashes .