Esther moved on purpose somewhat aggressively. Valentine's wide-open eyes never flinched or changed their expression. The maid touched her mistress on the shoulder.
"This isn't good of you," she said; "you ought to be asleep."
Valentine started and shivered violently.
"I thought I was asleep," she said. "At any rate I was far away."
"When people sleep they shut their eyes," quoth Esther.
"Were mine open? I did not know it. I was looking at a picture—a picture in real life. It was lovely."
"I like beautiful pictures," said Esther. "Tell me what you saw."
By this time these two women had forgotten the relative positions they bore to each other. Valentine observed no familiarity in Esther's tone. Esther spoke and thought as though she were Valentine's social equal. She knew she was above her mentally just then; it was necessary for her to take the lead.
"Tell me what you saw, madam," she said. "Describe your beautiful picture."