She did not answer, and sat still in a chair by the window, her hat still on her head, and her shawl wrapped closely about her.
"A beautiful night," she said softly, at last. "How far you can see from here over the city! You are very happy to be able to live in such a beautiful place."
"Well, you can share the happiness, then. Only make yourself quite at home. Are you tired?"
"Oh, no! but please don't trouble yourself about me. If you want to go to sleep, I will sit here and will not stir."
He came and stood beside her by the open window.
"Well, Zenz," he said, "you must not mind if I leave you alone now. The day has been so hot, the wretched music of that band and all sorts of other things have given me a furious headache, and I had better get to sleep. Good-night, child! If you want anything to amuse you, here are all manner of things--photographs and books of pictures. I will light you another candle. And now, make yourself comfortable. You can bolt the door from this side, and my housekeeper goes to market early in the morning, so that you are quite safe from her. And so, good-night!"
He touched her cheek lightly. She raised her face toward him, quietly and submissively, and looked at him half inquiringly, half afraid. Her lips, with their white teeth, were parted--yet now without a laugh--and her hands lay quietly folded in her lap. Yet, as he bent over her, he only touched the hair upon her forehead lightly with his lips.
"Good-night!" he said again.
Then he went into the adjoining room, and closed the door behind him.