The two girls shook hands and wished each other good night. Melanie departed to her room. Czipra was sleeping in the room next to hers.
When Melanie had shut the door behind her, Czipra blew out the candle in her own room, and remained in darkness. With her clothes on she threw herself on her bed, and then, resting her head on her elbow, listened.
Suddenly she thought the opposite room door gently opened.
The beating of her heart almost pierced through her bosom.
"If he loves, then let him love."
Then she rose from her bed, and, holding her breath, slipped to the door and looked through the keyhole into Melanie's room.[63]
[63] This was of course through the door that communicated between the rooms of Melanie and Czipra.
The candle was still burning there.
But from her position she could not see Melanie. From the rustling of garments she suspected that Melanie was taking off her dress. Now with quiet steps she approached the table, on which the candle was burning. She had a white dressing-gown on, her hair half let down, in her hand that little black book, in which Czipra had so often admired those "Glory" pictures without daring to ask what they were.
Melanie reached the table, and laying the little prayer-book on the shelf of her mirror, kneeled down, and, clasping her two hands together, rested against the corner of the table and prayed.