denuded appearance which signified the success of her agent in
obtaining what she had required.

"'Tis wonderful that she should ask ye," observed the magisterial
coachman, presently. "I have never known her do it before, for as
a rule she takes no interest in the village folk at all."

Marty said no more, but occasionally turned her head to see if she
could get a glimpse of the Olympian creature who as the coachman
had truly observed, hardly ever descended from her clouds into the
Tempe of the parishioners. But she could discern nothing of the
lady. She also looked for Miss Melbury and Winterborne. The nose
of their horse sometimes came quite near the back of Mrs.
Charmond's carriage. But they never attempted to pass it till the
latter conveyance turned towards the park gate, when they sped by.
Here the carriage drew up that the gate might be opened, and in
the momentary silence Marty heard a gentle oral sound, soft as a
breeze.

"What's that?" she whispered.

"Mis'ess yawning."

"Why should she yawn?"

"Oh, because she's been used to such wonderfully good life, and
finds it dull here. She'll soon be off again on account of it."

"So rich and so powerful, and yet to yawn!" the girl murmured.
"Then things don't fay with she any more than with we!"