XXX

           AnnaLeath,threedayslater,satinMissPainter’sdrawing-roomintheruedeMatignon.

           Comingupprecipitatelythatmorningfromthecountry,shehadreachedParisatoneo’clockandMissPainter’slandingsometenminuteslater.MissPainter’smouldylittleman-servant,dissemblinganapkinunderhisarm,hadmildlyattemptedtoopposeherentrance;butAnna,insisting,hadgonestraighttothedining-roomandsurprisedherfriend—whoateasfurtivelyascertainanimals—overastrangemealofcoldmuttonandlemonade.Ignoringtheembarrassmentshecaused,shehadsetforththeobjectofherjourney,andMissPainter,alwayshattedandbootedforaction,hadimmediatelyhastenedout,leavinghertothesolitudeofthebarefirelessdrawing-roomwithitseternalslip-coversand“bowed”shutters.

           InthisinhospitableobscurityAnnahadsataloneforcloseupontwohours.Bothobscurityandsolitudewereacceptabletoher,andimpatientasshewastoheartheresultoftheerrandonwhichshehaddespatchedherhostess,shedesiredstillmoretobealone.Duringherlongmeditationinawhite-swathedchairbeforethemuffledhearthshehadbeenableforthefirsttimetoclearawaythroughthedarknessandconfusionofherthoughts.Thewaydidnotgofar,andherattempttotraceitwasasweakandspasmodicasaconvalescent’sfirsteffortstopickupthethreadofliving.Sheseemedtoherselflikesomeonestrugglingtorisefromalongsicknessofwhichitwouldhavebeensomucheasiertodie.