She knew that she would be doing her husband a great service by inducing the girl to remain, and she would only too gladly have kept the leech in the house;--but then how deeply had she, and her son, been humiliated by this haughty creature! Should she humble herself to her, a woman so much younger, offer her hand, make....
At this moment they heard the tinkle of the silver bowl, into which her husband threw a little ball when he wanted her.

His pale, suffering face rose before her inward eye, she could hear him asking for his opponent at draughts, she could see his sad, reproachful gaze when she told him to-morrow that she, Neforis, had driven his niece, the daughter of the noble Thomas, out of the house--, with a swift impulse she went towards Paula, grasping the reliquary in her left hand and holding out her right, and said in a low voice.
"Shake hands, girl.

I often ought to have behaved differently to you; but why have you never in the smallest thing sought my love?
God is my witness that at first I was fully disposed to regard you as a daughter, but you--well, let it pass.

I am sorry now that I should--if I have distressed you." At the first words Paula had placed her hand in that of Neforis.

Hers was as cold as marble, the elder woman's was hot and moist; it seemed as though their hands were typical of the repugnance of their hearts.
They both felt it so, and their clasp was but a brief one.