sake of the word 'much,'" I replied.

I tried to take her hands. She drew them away quickly, though, in fact,
she had no need to fear; for had she given me them, I merely intended to
press them in brotherly fashion; but this appearance of distrust aroused
memories which were dangerous for me. I fancy she showed a great deal of
coquetry that evening in her expression and manners; and, until then,
I had never seen the least inclination toward it. I felt my courage
rising, though I could not explain why; and I ventured on some pointed
remarks about her interview with M. de la Marche. She made no effort
to deny my interpretations, and began to laugh when I told her that she
ought to thank me for my exquisite politeness in retiring as soon as I
saw her knit her brow.

Her supercilious levity was beginning to irritate me a little, when
a servant entered and handed her a letter, saying that some one was
waiting for an answer.

"Go to my writing-table and cut a pen for me, please," she said to me.

With an air of unconcern she broke the seal and ran through the letter,
while I, quite ignorant of the contents, began preparing her writing
materials.

For some time the crow-quill had been cut ready for use; for some time
the paper with its coloured vignette had been waiting by the side of
the amber writing-case; yet Edmee paid no attention to them and made no
attempt to use them. The letter lay open in her lap; her feet were
on the fire-dogs, her elbows on the arm of her chair in her favourite
attitude of meditation. She was completely absorbed. I spoke to her