"
Yet he appreciated a snowy, well-laundried napkin in its place, and
he was most considerate and thoughtful in his treatment of servants.
He supposed Berene to be an upper servant of the house, and yet, as
he glanced at her, a strange and unaccountable feeling of interest
seized upon him. The creamy pallor of her skin, colourless save for
the full red lips, the dark eyes full of unutterable longing, the
aristocratic poise of the head, the softly rounded figure, elegant in
its simple gown and apron, all impressed him as he had never before
been impressed by any woman.
It was several days before he chanced to see her again, and then only
for a moment as she passed through the hall; but he heard a trill of
song from her lips, which added to his interest and curiosity. "That
girl is no common servant," he said to himself, and he resolved to
learn more about her.
It had been the custom of the Baroness to keep herself quite hidden
from her lodgers. They seldom saw her, after the first business
interview. Therefore it was a matter of surprise to the young editor
when he came home from his office one night, just after twelve
o'clock, and found the mistress of the mansion standing in the hall
by the register, in charming evening attire.
She smiled upon him radiantly.
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