Her words and manner so puzzled me that I thought she had not fully recovered from the effects of the shock, and I replied, in an off-hand way:
"After a few weeks of teaching stupid children to turn noise into music you would gladly be yourself again."
She paid no heed to this remark, but, with the same intent, exploring look, asked:
"Thee was the first one I saw when I came to last night?"
"Yes, and you were much afraid of me."
"I was foolish—I fear mother's right, and I've always been foolish."
"Your manner last night was most natural. I was a stranger, and a hard-looking customer, too, when I entered your room."
"I hope I didn't look very—very bad."
"You looked so like a beautiful piece of marble that I feared you were dead."
"Thee wouldn't have cared much."