"And so it went on day after day, week after week, but the child's eager, anxious love brought them no nearer to each other.
"In the dark nights when the weather permitted, my lady walked in the grounds. At first I offered to accompany her, but she refused my company.
"'I will walk alone, Denise.'
"The servants used to say, as the moonlight fell on her white dress:
"'She looks like a white ghost.'
"And at other times:
"'She is like a white shadow moving in the moon's light.'
"Her husband was careful to keep out of her sight when she indulged in these lonely rambles. They would not make the slightest advance to each other.
"I must not forget to tell you what occurred about a month after this estrangement. The duties of my attendance on my lady did not keep me with her during the night unless she was ill, and was likely to require my services. Generally I waited till I saw her abed and asleep. She retired early, and this afforded me an opportunity of looking after the room occupied by my husband and myself.
"I remember that on this night I drew the blind aside after I was undressed, and looked toward my master's study. There were lights in the windows, as usual. I was not surprised, for Mr. Almer frequently sat up the whole night through.