Color danced on her cheeks, health sparkled in her eyes and there was a laugh of sheer high spirits floating behind her like the blown petals of a daisy.
"Perfectly wonderful," she said.

"I love the country about here, with the little oaks and sturdy ferns.

It's so springy.

And aren't the chestnut trees in the village a sight for the blind?
I don't wonder you built a house in Easthampton, Mr.Hosack.Are we too late for tea ?" Hosack ran his eyes over her and blinked a little as though he had looked at the sun.

"Too late by an hour," he said, with a sulky glance at young Oldershaw.