In a moment more the clouds themselves parted, or rather vanished like the wall, and she looked straight into the starry herds, flashing gloriously in the dark blue.

It was but for a moment.

The clouds gathered again and shut out the stars; the wall gathered again and shut out the clouds; and there stood the lady beside her with the loveliest smile on her face, and a shimmering ball in her hand, about the size of a pigeon's egg.
'There, Irene; there is my work for you!' she said, holding out the ball to the princess.
She took it in her hand, and looked at it all over.

It sparkled a little, and shone here and there, but not much.

It was of a sort of grey-whiteness, something like spun glass.
'Is this all your spinning, grandmother ?' she asked.
'All since you came to the house.