She had been startled more than once by finding her near when she had not been aware of her presence.

She had, of course, heard Hester say that native servants often startled one by their silent, stealthy-seeming ways.

But the woman's eyes had frightened her.

And she had heard the story about the village girl.
She sat, and thought, and thought.

Her eyes were fixed upon the moss-covered ground, and her breath came quickly and irregularly several times.
"I don't know what to do," she said.