It was very late, and only starlight.

To their surprise, three paces away they saw, seated upon a stone, an old country-woman, in a cloak which they took for black.
When they came close up to it, they saw it was red.
'Good evening!' said Peter.
'Good evening!' returned the old woman, in a voice as old as herself.
But Curdie took off his cap and said: 'I am your servant, Princess.' The old woman replied: 'Come to me in the dove tower tomorrow night, Curdie--alone.' 'I will, ma'am,' said Curdie.
So they parted, and father and son went home to wife and mother--two persons in one rich, happy woman..