foundthatthewomanwasbenumbedandhardlyabletomove。EvenwhenIaskedhertoenter，andsupplementedmywordswithgesturesincasesheshouldnotunderstandmylanguage，shestoodstock—still，onlyrockingslightlytoandfroasthoughshehadjuststrengthenoughlefttobalanceherselfonherfeet。Iwasafraid，fromtheconditioninwhichshewas，thatshemightdropdowndeadatanymoment。SoItookherbythehandtoleadherin。Butsheseemedtooweaktoevenmaketheattempt。WhenIpulledherslightlyforward，thinkingtohelpher，shetottered，andwouldhavefallenhadInotcaughtherinmyarms。Then，halfliftingher，Imovedherforwards。Herfeet，relievedofherweight，nowseemedabletomakethenecessaryeffort；andso，Ialmostcarryingher，wemovedintotheroom。Shewasattheveryendofherstrength；Ihadtoliftheroverthesill。Inobediencetohermotion，IclosedtheFrenchwindowandboltedit。Isupposedthewarmthoftheroom——thoughcool，itwaswarmerthanthedampairwithout——affectedherquickly，forontheinstantsheseemedtobegintorecoverherself。Inafewseconds，asthoughshehadreacquiredherstrength，sheherselfpulledtheheavycurtainacrossthewindow。Thisleftusindarkness，throughwhichIheardhersayinEnglish：
\"Light。Getalight！\"
Ifoundmatches，andatoncelitacandle。Asthewickflared，shemovedovertothedooroftheroom，andtriedifthelockandboltwerefastened。Satisfiedastothis，shemovedtowardsme，herwetshroudleavingatrailofmoistureonthegreencarpet。Bythistimethewaxofthecandlehadmeltedsufficientlytoletmeseeherclearly。Shewasshakingandquiveringasthoughinanague；shedrewthewetshroudaroundherpiteously。InstinctivelyIspoke：
\"CanIdoanythingforyou？\"
Sheanswered，stillinEnglish，andinavoiceofthrilling，almostpiercingsweetness，whichseemedsomehowtogostraighttomyheart，andaffectedmestrangely：\"Givemewarmth。\"