that I saw something?" she thought. "A great many people have done so
before, and no one can prove the contrary. Yes, I saw him," she
repeated.

"How? standing up or lying down?"

"I saw him--at first there was nothing; then suddenly I saw him lying
down."

"André, lying down? Then he is ill!" And Natacha gazed horror-stricken
at her companion.

"Not at all; he seemed quite cheerful, on the contrary," said she,
beginning to believe in her own inventions.

"And then--Sonia, what then?"

"Then I saw only confusion--red and blue."

"And when will he come back, Sonia? When shall I see him again? O God! I
am afraid for him--afraid of everything."

And, without listening to Sonia's attempts at comfort, Natacha slipped
into bed, and, long after the lights were out, she lay motionless but
awake, her eyes fixed on the moonshine that came dimly through the
frost-embroidered windows.