She was reading a child's simple story-book, and looked up as she spoke.

Her eyes were wide open and full of questions.
"What, my dear ?" asked Mrs.Dinneford, repressing her feelings and trying to keep her voice calm.
"There's something I can't understand, mother." She looked down at herself, then about the room.

Her manner was becoming nervous.
"What can't you understand ?" Edith shut her hands over her eyes and remained very still.

When she removed them, and her mother looked into her face the childlike sweetness and content were all gone, and a conscious woman was before her.

The transformation was as sudden as it was marvelous.
Both remained silent for the space of nearly a minute.