He took her by her ungloved right hand and drew her into the room.
She was still a little out of breath, and under her black veil a faint
flush diffused itself over her whole face.
'Forgive me, Andrea! I could not get away any sooner--there is so much
to do--so many calls to return--such tiring days! I hardly know where to
turn. How warm it is in here! What a delicious smell!'
She was standing in the middle of the room--a little undecided and ill
at ease in spite of her rapid and lightly spoken words. A velvet coat
with Empire sleeves, very full at the shoulders and buttoned closely at
the wrists and with an immense collar of blue fox for sole trimming,
covered her from head to foot, but without disguising the grace of her
figure. She looked at Andrea with eyes in which a curious tremulous
smile softened the flash and sparkle.
'You have changed somehow,' she said; 'I don't quite know what it
is--but round your mouth, for instance, there are bitter lines that used
not to be there.'
She spoke in a tone of affectionate familiarity. The sound of her voice
once more in this room caused him such exquisite delight that he
exclaimed--'Speak again, Elena--go on speaking!'
She laughed. 'Why?' she asked.
'You know why,' he answered, taking her hand again.
She drew her hand away and looked the young man deep in the eyes.
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