At tea the candles were lit, and the windows closed.

Every one looked moped and dull; the evening promised to be insufferable.

Mrs.Hollenbeck saw the necessity of rousing herself and providing us some amusement.

When Mr.Langenau entered, she met his bow with one of her best smiles: how the change must have struck him; for she had been very mechanical and polite to him before.

Now she spoke to him with the charming manner that brought every one to her feet.
And what was the cause of this sudden kindness?
It is very easy for me to see now, though then I had not a suspicion.