Her age, perhaps, was in the vicinity of forty, for her hair was changing to grey, and hung in neat braids down the sides of her face, which was round and ruddy, and still gleamed with the freshness of youth.

Her shawl-pin was a heavy gold anchor and chain, and her wrists were clasped with heavy gold bracelets, bearing a shield, on which was inscribed a sailor with his quadrant poised, in the act of taking the sun.

I ought also to add that she carried a big umbrella in her left hand, and a small leathern satchel in her right.
This quaint little woman's manner was exceedingly nervous and hesitating.

Twice or thrice she advanced up the passage to the foot of the stairs, hesitated, returned to the door, and looked up at the number, as if still uncertain about some project on trial in her mind.
Men were passing in and out, and up and down the stairs hurriedly, as if some important business required all their attention.

The little woman took no heed of any of them, and indeed seemed confused in her own thoughts.