her hand on her heart as though to still its throbbings.]

[He sits by the central table.]

[While Emma places the venison on the table, David,

who has his eyes on Charles, drops a dish, waking the

latter.]

[He mumbles an Ave Maria while all cross

themselves and sit down. Emma carves the venison,

Eginhardt opens his book. Charles stares wonderingly

round.]

[He reads from Chapter XII. of the Nineteenth Book of