"Is it you who will play?" she said, approaching Sacha.
"Yes; tell me what you prefer; I only warn you that I don't play anything very serious."
"Play something that I have not yet heard; all that calls up associations of the past makes me feel poorly. During the four years that I have been at the convent you must have learnt many things which I don't know. You know, perhaps, Beethoven's Sonata 'Quasi una fantasia.'"
"Certainly. Would you like to hear it? 'It is an old piece that is always new,' our musical professor used to say."
"Yes. To-day I feel drawn to it, though I know it will make me suffer."
"Do you know that it is a little alarming to see you as a nun? Why should it be? Our family has been always given to religion; my grandmother entered a convent at the close of her days; and my mother spent her days in visiting the Holy Places."
Sacha went to the piano and the general's wife came and sat by Helene. She took her hands and said to her in a sentimental tone, "Do you remember how often we used to play duets at school?"
"We must confess that we played very badly," answered Helene with a smile.
"Yes, but the recollection is a delightful one. Do you remember the venerable Father who used to come to listen to us? Do you know I was quite in love with him! But pardon me; I forgot that before you.... Ah, you are quite removed from all that to-day, happy woman!"
"But are not you happy?"