But, at the same instant, she was seized by a thought that suddenly made her rebellious and young, as when she was here last, many years ago.
She thrust her chair back hard and looked with sparkling eyes round the room where everything and every memory was hostile to her.
She looked at Finn, who was standing by the celestial globe and trying to set it going, but could not, because the spring was rusty and refused to work.
She wondered, when the time came for Finn to take a wife ... would he try to revive the tradition and bring her here and sit down with her in the old chairs?
Then Finn’s son and his son after him would read her name, which was written on the yellow document and struck out again. She would be like one of those who were branded in that family.... Legends would grow about her love of going out and her hunt after happiness which did not exist....
“Come and help me, mother,” said Finn.
She went over and pressed hard on the spring and the clockwork hummed.
“See how you let loose the magic,” he said.
He went on talking, delighted with the stars, which lit up and ran.
“Sit down here by me, Finn.”