They are friends of my
father's.'
At the first word, he was surprised by the change in her voice and
accentuation. Her speech was that of an educated woman; the melody
which always had such a charm for him had gained wonderfully in
richness. Yet it was with difficulty that she commanded utterance,
and her agitation touched him in a way quite other than he was
prepared for. In truth, he knew not what experience he had
anticipated, but the reality, now that it came, this unimaginable
blending of memory with the unfamiliar, this refinement of something
that he had loved, this note of pity struck within him by such
subtle means, affected his inmost self. Immediately he laid stern
control upon his feelings, but all the words which he had designed
to speak were driven from memory. He could say nothing, could only
glance at her veiled face and await what she had to ask of him.
'Will you sit down? I shall feel grateful if you can spare me a few
minutes. I have asked you to see me because--indeed, because I am
sadly in want of the kind of help a friend might give me. I don't
venture to call you that, but I thought of you; I hoped you wouldn't
refuse to let me speak to you.
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