"What's the matter with you?" he asked.
Without answering, she ran out of the room.
He made a movement as if he were about to follow her; then set his teeth and sat down again. A dull resentment devoured him. He could not forgive her for depriving him of the illusion on which for weeks he had been building so many vague hopes.
Now there was nothing for it but to drink the cup of degradation to the dregs, no matter how bitter the bottom might taste.
In a little while Regina appeared again, in her outdoor things.
"You wish to go out to-night, then?" he asked harshly.
She kept her head half averted, so that he should not see she had red eyes.
"To-morrow is Christmas, Herr--the holy feast day; and the grocer says that on Christmas night he would rather not be disturbed."
Christmas! holy feast! How strange and like a fairy tale that sounded. Then there was still rejoicing and festivity going on in the world! People still joined hands and frolicked round glittering fir-tree!
"You wish to get your Christmas presents, I suppose, Regina?" he inquired, smiling bitterly.