An owl hooted weirdly in the ivy far above her, while near, at her feet, a rabbit scuttled away through the grass.

Such noises she was used to.

She knew every night-sound of the country-side; for when she had finished her work in the library she often went, unknown to the household, with Stewart upon his nocturnal rounds, and walked miles through the woods in the night.
The grey-eyed, thin-nosed head-keeper was her particular favourite.

He knew so much of natural history, and he taught her all he knew.

She could distinguish the cries of birds in the night, and could tell by certain sounds made by them, as they were disturbed, that no other intruders were in the vicinity.