Slender Cleopatra sat straight up on the edge of the bed. She took her sister’s face in her two little hands, waking Berenice up by touch and speech.
“Why is your lover not with you?” asked Cleopatra.
Berenice, startled, opened her lovely eyes.
“Cleopatra! What are you doing here? What do you want of me?”
“Why is your lover not with you?” repeated the girl, insisting.
“Is he not with me?”
“Certainly not! You know that well enough!”
“True! He’s never here. Oh, Cleopatra, how cruel of you to wake me, to tell me so!”
“But why is he always away?”