Behind her, holding a lamp a little above her head, stood a young girl, large, womanly in form, with dimpled softness of face, and dressed in a rich but quaint garment of amber colour.

With raised and statuesque wrist she held the lamp aloft to keep the light from dazzling her eyes.

She was looking through the doorway with the quiet interest of responsibility, nothing of which was expressed in the servant's furrowed countenance.
'Is the master of the house at home ?' 'There is no master.' The girl spoke with a mellow voice and with a manner of soft dignity; yet, having regarded the stranger, there leaped into her face, as it seemed to him, behind the outward calm of the dark eyes and dimpling curves, a certain excited interest and delight.

The current of thought thus revealed contrasted with the calm which she instinctively turned to him, as the words which an actor speaks aside contrast with those which are not soliloquy.
With more hesitation, more obvious modesty, he said-- 'May I speak to the mistress of the house ?' 'I am the mistress.' He could but look upon her more intently.

She could not have been more than eighteen years of age.