So, by way of expressing this delight, she sat down at the desk and

began to cry very softly.

[XIII]

Having duly considered the emptiness of existence, the unworthiness of

men, the dreary future that awaited her--though this did not trouble

her greatly, as she confidently expected to die soon--and many other

such dolorous topics, Miss Hugonin decided to retire for the night.

She rose, filled with speculations as to the paltriness of life and

the probability of her eyes being red in the morning.

"It will be all his fault if they are," she consoled herself.