One could see it in the very poise of her
figure when she crossed the room.
"This is delightful, is it not?" Claudia whispered to me in the
drawing-room on the evening of her return.
"Delightful," I answered; but I was puzzled. Ideala's variableness was
all on the surface, and I felt sure that this sudden change, which
looked like ease after agony, meant something serious.
She did not keep me long in suspense. The next morning she came to my
studio door and looked in shyly.
"Come in," I said. "I have been expecting you," and then I went on with
my painting. I saw she had something to tell me, and thought, as she
was evidently embarrassed, it would be easier for her to speak if I did
not look at her. "I hope you are going to stay with us some time now,
Ideala," I added, glancing up at her as she came and looked over my
shoulder at the picture.
Her face clouded. "I--I am afraid not," she answered, hesitating, and
nervously fidgeting with some paint brushes that lay on a table beside
her.
"I am afraid you will not want me when you know what I am going to do.
I only came back to tell you.
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