"I feel that way about this house. Why since I lived in my mother's house I haven't lived anywhere else. How well I remember the first excitement of having a home of my own."
"When was that, Aunt M.?"
"I have never told you, have I? It was after I decided I would never marry." Aunt M. paused. Mary Ann rustled in to take the tray of coffee things.
"Anything else tonight, mum?"
"No, I won't need anything more. Good night, Mary Ann."
"Good night, mum."
"Nan, it's a long time since you brought Mr. Macdougan in to see me."
"He's very busy this year. He's giving a course of his own."
"A very clever young man, Nancibel ... But I was telling you about the events that led up to my taking this house. It was something very near to me, which I have told to very few."
Aunt M. turned towards Nan and let her voice drop to a shaky whisper. Her eyes seemed strangely large and young and tremulous, staring out of the yellow wrinkled face.