In this gloomy apartment where she had often sat alone, sure not to be disturbed, the suggestion of uproarious jollity hurt her dignity.

A singular way to express sorrow and shame at the loss of a wife by calling in boon companions! This did not seem like Felix Clemenceau, sober and austere, thus to drown care in champagne.
"Are you alone, girl ?" she inquired, looking round with a powerful impression that the house had unexpected inmates.
"Yes.

No one is up yet in the house," responded Hedwig, sharing her mistress' uneasiness, though from a less indefinite reason; "at all events, nobody has come down yet.

But how did you see that it was I who came in here before the shades were drawn up ?" "Well, I had made a little peep-hole to see what my husband and his fellow conspirator were about, in the time before they shut themselves up in their studio.

But, if it is my turn to put questions," she went on with some offended dignity, "how is it that the back door is bolted as well as barred and that I have had to sneak in like a malefactor ?" "If you please, madame, it is the rule to be very careful about fastening up, since you went away." "Oh, on the principle of locking the stable-door when the steed--" "Oh! they fear the loss of something which, without offense, I may say, they esteem more highly than you." Hedwig answered without even a little impertinence and the other did not resent what sounded discourteous.
"Then they do not lock up to keep me out ?" she questioned.
"It might be a little bit that way, too." "It is a new habit.