An idler was piping somewhere in the fields, the rooks were cawing, the leaves on the boughs just winked in the breeze, the Hall door lay open as usual.

I did not see a soul about, and I walked in without summoning anyone.

I opened the parlour door; the place smelt of May and myrtle, and there were fresh roses in the jars, but there was no one there.

No one in the kitchen, dairy, still-room; the maids were abroad this glorious noon.

I went upstairs, looking for a face in vain till I came to our school-room.
There was Jane alone, sitting at the table over some books, her head between her hands, her hair thrust back from her face, looking older and paler and thinner since I had seen her; a stern, sad-looking young student, with her back to the sun that burned upon the lattice.
Her face turned scarlet when she saw me, and then became paler than before.