She was a slight, pretty woman of something less than thirty; with a good, but pale, complexion, hair tending to auburn, sincere eyes.

Her little vanities had no roots of ill-nature; she could admire without envy, and loved an orderly domestic life.

Her husband's desire to increase his income had rather unsettled her; she exaggerated the importance of to-day's interview, and resolved with nervous energy to bring it to a successful issue, if Miss Derrick should prove a possible companion.
About four o'clock sounded the visitor's ring.

From her bedroom window Emmeline had seen Miss Derrick's approach.

As the distance from the station was only five minutes' walk, the stranger naturally came on foot.