noon
When she stood there she hung over , over the gardens and the woods -- all of which drowsed below her , at this hour , in the immensity of light . The miles of shade looked hot , the banks of flowers looked dim ; the peacocks on the balustrades let their tails hang limp and the smaller birds lurked among the leaves . Nothing therefore would have appeared to stir in the brilliant void if Maggie , at the moment she was about to turn away , had not caught sight of a moving spot , a clear green sunshade in the act of descending a flight of steps . It passed down from the terrace , receding , at a distance , from sight , and carried , naturally , so as to conceal the head and back of its bearer ; but Maggie had quickly recognised the white dress and the particular motion of this adventurer -- had taken in that Charlotte , of all people , had chosen the glare of noon for an exploration of the gardens , and that she could be betaking herself only to some unvisited quarter deep in them , or beyond them , that she had already marked as a superior refuge . The Princess kept her for a few minutes in sight , watched her long enough to feel her , by the mere betrayal of her pace and direction , driven in a kind of flight , and then understood , for herself , why the act of sitting still had become impossible to either of them . There came to her , confusedly , some echo of an ancient fable -- some vision of Io goaded by the gadfly or of Ariadne roaming the lone sea-strand . It brought with it all the sense of her own intention and desire ; she too might have been , for the hour , some far-off harassed heroine -- only with a part to play for which she knew , exactly , no inspiring precedent .