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Mademoiselle played a soft interlude It was an improvisation She sat

low at the instruraceful

curves and angles that gave it an appearance of deformity Gradually and

i minor chords of

the Chopin Ian or ended She sat in the sofa

corner reading Robert's letter by the fading light Made love notes of Isolde's song,

and back again to the I

The shadows deepened in the little rooe and

fantastic--turbulent, insistent, plaintive and soft with entreaty The

shadows grew deeper The ht, over the housetops, the crescent of the river, losing itself in

the silence of the upper air

Edna was sobbing, just as she had wept one e, new voices awoke in her She arose in soain, Mademoiselle?" she asked at the

threshold

"Come whenever you feel like it Be careful; the stairs and landings are

dark; don't stumble"

Mademoiselle reentered and lit a candle Robert's letter was on the

floor She stooped and picked it up It was crumpled and damp with

tears Mademoiselle smoothed the letter out, restored it to the

envelope, and replaced it in the table drawer