Page:Des Grieux, The Prelude to Teleny.djvu/66

 The softest noise now terrified her, made her shudder and turn pale.

Faint, shivering, frightened, she jumped into her bed, and with a weak, almost inaudible, voice, bade the person who knocked to enter.

Who was it softly tapping at her door, could it be he, her lover? Perhaps some one had seen him come in the night before; the wildest conjectures rushed into her mind.

Evidently her voice had not been heard, a louder knock was heard and, at the same time, the door was opened. It was only the maid who had come to say that her aunt was waiting for her.

Camille told the servant that she was unwell and could not get up; presently the spinster-aunt came to enquire what was the matter. The young girl whispered faintly that her monthly courses had returned and she was feeling a great pain all over her body.

Her weary and worn look, and the dark halo round her eyes, showed plainly that she was not quite her usual self.