“Veryreadyareyoutoweep，butIshouldlikefirsttoheartheexactcircumstancesofthelad’sdeath。“
Thusinvited，thewomanwipedhereyeswiththesleeveofherbodice，lickedherlips，heavedaprolongedsigh，andfelltoregardingAntipa’sred，hardbittenfacewiththecheerful，unabashedglanceofapersonwhoisundertheinfluenceofliquor。Fromunderherwhitehead-bandtherehadfallenoverhertemplesandherrightcheekafewwispsofgoldenhair；andindeed，asshedrewherselfup，andtossedherheadandbosom，andsmoothedoutandstretchedthecreasesinherbodice，shelookedlessthanheryears。Everyonenowfelltoeyeingherinanattentivesilence，thoughnot，itwouldseem，withoutatouchofenvy。
Abruptly，sternly，theoldmaninquired:
“Didtheladevercomplainofill-health？“
“No，never，“Felitzatareplied。“Neveroncedidhespeakofit——neveronce。“