Yet they often spoke of her, and never saw the balcony at the end of the terrace without a kindly thought of those long ago days.
"One evening--an autumn evening--mild and balmy, the two old ladies were slowly pacing up and down their favourite walk, when a servant came out to say that they were wanted--a lady was asking for them.

But not to disturb them, he added, the visitor would be glad to see them in the garden, if they would allow it.

Wondering who it could be, Madame and her sister were hesitating what to do, when a figure was seen approaching them from the house.
"'I could not wait,' she said, almost before she reached them.

'I wished so much to see you once more in the old spot, dear friends;' and they knew her at once.

They recognised in the bowed and worn but still sweet and lovely woman, their pretty child-friend of fifty years ago.