[19] Shesatinherroom, onehotafternoon, inherpeignoir, listlesslydrawingthroughherfingersthestrandsofherlong, , halfnaked, layasleepuponherowngreatmahoganybed, thatwaslikeasumptuousthrone, ’slittlequadroonboys — halfnakedtoo—’seyeshadbeenfixedabsentlyandsadlyuponthebaby, , andbackagain; overandover.“Ah!” Itwasacrythatshecouldnothelp; , andaclammymoisturegathereduponherface.
[20] Shetriedtospeaktothelittlequadroonboy; butnosoundwouldcome, , helookedup, , softfan, andobedientlystoleaway, overthepolishedfloor, onhisbaretiptoes.
[21] Shestayedmotionless, withgazeriveteduponherchild, andherfacethepictureoffright.
[22] Presentlyherhusbandenteredtheroom, andwithoutnoticingher, wenttoatableandbegantosearchamongsomepaperswhichcoveredit.
[23] “Armand,” shecalledtohim, inavoicewhichmusthavestabbedhim, .“Armand,” .“Armand,” shepantedoncemore, clutchinghisarm, “? tellme.”
[24] Hecoldlybutgentlyloosenedherfingersfromabouthisarmandthrustthehandawayfromhim.“Tellmewhatitmeans!” shecrieddespairingly.
[25] “Itmeans,” heansweredlightly, “thatthechildisnotwhite; itmeansthatyouarenotwhite.”
[26] Aquickconceptionofallthatthisaccusationmeantforhernervedherwithunwontedcouragetodenyit.“Itisalie; itisnottrue, Iamwhite! Lookatmyhair, itisbrown; , ,” seizinghiswrist.“Lookatmyhand; whiterthanyours, Armand,” shelaughedhysterically.
[27] “AswhiteasLaBlanche’s,” hereturnedcruelly; andwentawayleavingheralonewiththeirchild.
[28] Whenshecouldholdapeninherhand, shesentadespairinglettertoMadameValmonde.
