“Wretched!” I thought, “in the midst of wealth, and loved by that passionate, handsome man.” Then I recalled how I had often heard of lovers’ quarrels, and supposed that this was one that would soon be made up.
I felt very uncomfortable, and wondered what I ought to do. There was a deep silence in the next room that became painful, and I wondered whether Miss Carr had gone; but directly after I heard such a low bitter sobbing that it went to my heart, and, unable to bear it longer, I went to the door, looked in, and saw her half-lying on the couch, with her face buried in the pillow, weeping bitterly.
I hesitated for a moment, and then went in unheard over the soft thick carpet, and kneeling down, I took the inert hand hanging down, and kissed it.
In a moment she stood up with pale and angry face, flinging me off as if I had stung her.
“Oh, Antony, my boy; is it you?” she cried; and flinging her arms round me, she let her head fall upon my shoulder, and went passionately and long, while I tried to utter some feeble platitude to soothe her.
The storm passed off suddenly, and she wiped her swollen eyes.
“I had forgotten that you were there, Antony,” she said. “I have had a great trouble.”
She spoke with her face averted, and she was trying now to remove the traces of her tears.
“You could not hear what was said?” she asked.
“Yes, Miss Carr. I did not wish to, but I heard every word.”