He rang again, louder this time; after a moment, the door opened. She gave him her hand once more, with a smile.
“Good-night, mevrouw,” he said, taking her fingers respectfully and raising his hat.
Now, now she could hear the sound of his voice, with its note of sadness....
Chapter XIII
1
Then she knew, next day, when she sat alone, wrapped in reflection, that the sphere of happiness, the highest and brightest, may not be trod; that it may only beam upon us as a sun; and that we may not enter into it, into the sacred sun-centre. They had done that....
Listless she sat, with her children by her side, Christie looking pale and languid. Yes, she spoiled them; but how could she change herself?
Weeks passed; and Cecile heard nothing from Quaerts. It was always so: after he had been with her, weeks would drag by without her ever seeing him. For he was much too happy with her, it was more than he could bear. He looked upon her society as a rare pleasure to be very jealously indulged. And she, she loved him simply, with the innermost essence of her soul, loved him frankly, as a woman loves a man.... She always wanted him, every day, every hour, at every pulse of her life.