She did not help him at all; she remained perfectly silent, as usual.

She did not even look at him, but straight out of the window into the pouring rain, and it was then he saw that her eyes were not black but slate.
"You understand why I have come, of course ?" he said by way of a beginning.
"Yes," she replied and said nothing more.
"I want to marry you, you know," he went on.
"Really!" she said.
"Yes, I do." And he set his teeth--certainly she was difficult! "That is fortunate for you, since you are going to do so." This was not encouraging; it was also unexpected.
"Yes, I am," he answered, "on the 25th of October, with your permission." "I have already consented." And she clasped her hands.
"May I sit down beside you and talk ?" he asked.
She pointed to a Louis XVI.

_bergere_ which stood opposite, and herself took a small armchair at the other side of the fire.
So they sat down, she gazing into the blazing coals and he gazing at her.

She was facing the gloomy afternoon light, though she did not think out these things like her uncle, so he had a clear and wonderful picture of her.

"How could so voluptuous looking a creature be so icily cold ?" he wondered.