The spell that bound her was broken by her perceiving the two little children seated on a heap of hay.

She suddenly went forward, spoke to them, and took one on her arm and the other in her hand.
'And two children ?' said Mr.Darton, showing thus that he had not been there long enough as yet to understand the situation.
'My grandchildren,' said Mrs.Hall, with as much affected ease as before.
Philip Hall's wife, in spite of this interruption to her first rencounter, seemed scarcely so much affected by it as to feel any one's presence in addition to Mr.Darton's.

However, arousing herself by a quick reflection, she threw a sudden critical glance of her sad eyes upon Mrs.Hall; and, apparently finding her satisfactory, advanced to her in a meek initiative.

Then Sally and the stranger spoke some friendly words to each other, and Sally went on with the children into the house.

Mrs.
Hall and Helena followed, and Mr.Darton followed these, looking at Helena's dress and outline, and listening to her voice like a man in a dream.
By the time the others reached the house Sally had already gone upstairs with the tired children.