“No, I shall knock against Labrie, dozing on a chair. Good night, my dears.”
“Good night, brother,” said Andrea as Philip also stood up: “I am overcome with fatigue. This is the first time, I have been up since my accident.”
The gentleman kissed her hand with respect mixed with his affection always entertained for his sister and he went through the corridor, almost brushing against Gilbert.
“Never mind Nicole—I shall retire alone. Good bye, Philip.”
CHAPTER VI.
WHAT GILBERT EXPECTED.
A SHIVER ran through the watcher as the girl rose from her chair. With her alabaster hands she pulled out her hairpins one by one while the wrapper, slipping down upon her shoulders, disclosed her pure and graceful neck, and her arms, carelessly arched over her head, threw out the lower curve of the body to the advantage of the exquisite throat, quivering under the linen.
Gilbert felt a touch of madness and was on the verge of rushing forward, yelling:
“You are lovely, but you must not be too proud of your beauty since you owe it to me—it was I saved your life!”
Suddenly a knot in the corset string irritated Andrea who stamped her foot and rang the bell.
This knell recalled the lover to reason. Nicole had left the door open so as to run back. She would come.