midnight
`` Nonsense ! '' Rogers almost shook her . And yet , considering the suggestive force of the poor lady 's preconceived ideas , the mistake was not unpardonable . In those surroundings , against that flickering light , standing , straight and silent in her short skirt and moccasins , her leaf-brown hair tied with bracken and turned to midnight black by the shadows , her grey eyes mysterious under their dark lashes , and her lips unsmiling , Desire might well have been some beauty of that vanishing race . A princess , perhaps , waiting with grave courtesy for the welcome due her from her husband 's people . `` And not a bit ashamed of it , '' murmured Aunt Caroline in what she fondly hoped was a whisper . `` Utterly callous !