Lucina was capable of an agony of faithfulness to her own, but of loyalty in a broad sense she knew nothing, and never would, having in that respect the typical capacity only of women.
The east-room door had been left ajar.

Presently a soft whisper of silk could be heard afar off; but before that even a delicate breath of lavender came floating into the room.

Many sweet and subtly individual odors seemed to dwell in this old house, preceding the mortal inhabitants through the doors, and lingering behind them in rooms where they had stayed.
Lucina started when the lavender breath entered the room, and looked up as if at a ghostly herald.

She toed out her two small morocco-shod feet more particularly upon the floor, she smoothed down her own and her doll's little petticoats, and she also made herself all ready to rise and courtesy.
After the lavender sweetness came the whisper of silk flounces, growing louder and louder; but there was no sound of footsteps, for Aunt Camilla moved only with the odor and rustle of a flower.

No one had ever heard her little slippered feet; even her high heels never tapped the thresholds.