Sentence:  Then came a maid with hand-bag and shawls, and after her a tall young lady....She <WSD>looked</WSD> around expectantly, and recognizing Mrs. Cooke's maid...Miss Thorn greeted her with a smile which greatly prepossessed us in her favor. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To try to see, to pay attention to with one's eyes.