Chapter V

           Iwenttoteaunderthebigapple-tree.Itwasverybigandoldandwonderful.NowonderMr.MacNairnandhismotherlovedit.ItsgreatbranchesspreadoutfartherthanIhadeverseenthebranchesofanapple-treespreadbefore.Theyweregnarledandknottedandbeautifulwithage.Theirshadowsuponthegrasswerevelvet,deepandsoft.Suchatreecouldonlyhaveliveditslifeinsuchagarden.Atleastitseemedsotome.Thehigh,dim-coloredwalls,withtheircurious,lowcornertowersandtheleafageofthewallfruitsspreadagainsttheirbrick,incloseditembracingly,asiftheyweretheretotakecareofitanditsbeauty.ButthetreeitselfseemedtohavegrownthereinallitsdignifiedlovelinessofshadowtotakecareofMrs.MacNairn,whosatunderit.Ifeltasifitlovedandwasproudofher.

           IhaveheardcleverliterarypeoplespeakofMrs.MacNairnasa“survivaloftype.”Sometimescleverpeoplebewildermebythetermstheyuse,butIthoughtIunderstoodwhattheymeantinhercase.Shewasquiteunlikethemodernelderlywoman,andyetshewasnotintheleastold-fashionedordemodee.Shewasonlyexquisitelydistinct.

           Whensherosefromherchairundertheapple-treeboughsandcameforwardtomeetmethatafternoon,thefirstthingswhichstruckmewereherheightandslendernessandherlightstep.ThenIsawthatherclearprofileseemedcutoutofivoryandthatherheadwasabeautifulshapeandwasbeautifullyset.Itseveryturnandmovementwasexquisite.Themerefactthatbothherlong,ivoryhandsenfoldedminethrilledme.