noon
No moving speck was visible ; and , with a sigh of relief , she sank back on the grassy mound and resumed the perusal of her book . Above and around her spread the wide branches of an aged apple-tree , feathered thickly with pearly petals , which the wind tossed hither and thither and drifted over the bermuda , as restless tides strew pink-chambered shells on sloping strands ; and down through the flowery limbs streamed the waning March sun , throwing grotesque shadows on the sward and golden ripples over the face and figure of the young lounger . A few yards distant a row of whitewashed bee-hives extended along the western side of the garden-wall , where perched a peacock whose rainbow hues were burnished by the slanting rays that smote like flame the narrow pane of glass which constituted a window in each hive and permitted investigation of the tireless workers within . The afternoon was almost spent ; the air , losing its balmy noon breath , grew chill with the approach of dew , and the figure under the apple-tree shivered slightly , and , closing her book , drew her scarlet shawl around her shoulders and leaned her dimpled chin on her knee . Sixteen years had ripened and rounded the girlish form , and given to her countenance that indefinable charm which marks the timid hovering between careless , frolicsome youth , and calmly conscious womanhood ; while perfect health rouged the polished cheeks and vermillioned the thin lips , whose outlines sharply indexed more of decision than amiability of character . There were hints of brown in the heavy mass of waveless dusky hair , that was elaborately braided and coiled around the well turned head , and certain amber rays suggestive of topaz and gold flashed out now and then in the dark-hazel iris of the large eyes , lending them an eldritch and baleful glow . Fresh as the overhanging apple-blooms , but immobile as if carved from pearl , -- perhaps it was just such a face as hers that fronted Jason , amid the clustering boughs of Colchian rhododendrons , when first he sought old Æëtes ' prescient daughter , -- the maiden face of magical Medea , innocent as yet of murder , sacrilege , fratricide , and plunder , -- eloquent of all possibilities of purity and peace , but vaguely adumbrating all conceivable disquietude and guilt .