An inverted cake-tin of weather-beaten straw, trimmed with rusty velvet, shadowed her old, tired eyes; an Indian shawl was crossed upon her thin bosom.
"Halcyone!" she called querulously.

"Where have you been, child?
You must have missed your tea." And Halcyone answered: "In the orchard." For of what use to inform Aunt Ginevra about that enchanting visit to Cheiron! Aunt Ginevra who knew not of such beings! "The orchard's let," grunted old William--"they do say it's sold--" "I had rather not hear of it, William," said Miss La Sarthe frowning.
"It does not concern one what occurs beyond one's gates." Old William growled gently, and continued his laborious task--one of the wheels squeaked as it turned on the flags.
"Aunt Ginevra, you must have that oiled," said Halcyone, as she screwed up her face.

"How can you bear it?
You can't see the lovely spring things, with that noise." "One does not see with one's ears, Halcyone," quavered Miss La Sarthe.
"Take me in now, William." "And she can't even see them with her eyes--poor Aunt Ginevra!" Halcyone said to herself, as she walked respectfully by the chair until it passed the front door on its way to the side.

Then she bounded up the steps and through the paneled, desolate hall, taking joy in climbing the dog-gates at the turn of the stairs, which she could easily have opened--and she did not pause until she reached her own room in the battered south wing, and was soon curled up in the broad window sill, her hands clasped round her knees.
For this was a wonderful thing which had come into her life .-- She had met someone who could see the other side of her head! Henceforth there would be a human voice, not only a fairy's, to converse with her.
Indeed, the world was a very fair place! Here, Priscilla found her when it was growing dark, still with the rapt expression of glad thought on her face.

And the elderly woman shook her head.