It was almost as if the light on the white fingers in front of me was beginning to have some hypnotic effect.

All at once, all thoughts seemed to stop; and for an instant the world and time stood still.
There lay a real hand across the book! What was there to so overcome me, as was the case?
I knew the hand that I saw on the book--and loved it.

Margaret Trelawny's hand was a joy to me to see--to touch; and yet at that moment, coming after other marvellous things, it had a strangely moving effect on me.

It was but momentary, however, and had passed even before her voice had reached me.
"What disturbs you?
What are you staring at the book for?
I thought for an instant that you must have been overcome again!" I jumped up.
"I was reading," I said, "an old book from the library." As I spoke I closed it and put it under my arm.

"I shall now put it back, as I understand that your Father wishes all things, especially books, kept in their proper places." My words were intentionally misleading; for I did not wish her to know what I was reading, and thought it best not to wake her curiosity by leaving the book about.