Besides the muslin stretched across the lower part of the window, it was undefended by curtains.

There was no cat in the room, nor was there one in the kitchen even; for Mrs.Falconer had such a respect for humanity that she grudged every morsel consumed by the lower creation.

She sat in one of the arm-chairs belonging to the hairy set, leaning back in contemplation of her grandson, as she took her tea.
She was a handsome old lady--little, but had once been taller, for she was more than seventy now.

She wore a plain cap of muslin, lying close to her face, and bordered a little way from the edge with a broad black ribbon, which went round her face, and then, turning at right angles, went round the back of her neck.

Her gray hair peeped a little way from under this cap.