She says the last words through a hairpin, while her hands take advantage of the lull to make a good job of that rope of black hair.
"Somehow Good"
William de Morgan
If it is let alone, it will keep the ear canal clean and healthy; but some people imagine that, because it looks yellowish, it must be dirt; and consequently, from mistaken ideas of cleanliness, they work at it with the end of the finger, the corner of a towel, or even with a hairpin, an ear-spoon, or an ear-pick, and in this way stop the proper flow of the wax and make it dry and block up the ear.
"A Handbook of Health"
Woods Hutchinson
Val stooped and picked up a hairpin from the floor, and twirled it absently in her fingers.
"Lonesome Land"
B. M. Bower