Page:Des Grieux, The Prelude to Teleny.djvu/86

 dark, caught hold of his hand, and led him out of the room.

His blood rushing upwards made him reel like a drunken man.

"It is late," said the wily woman, "moreover I am rather nervous to be left alone, as the doctor said that Camille might be worse to-night, a bed-room is ready for you, had'nt you better stay and sleep here?"

Although the youth was thinking of the scullion's huge breasts, her powerful hips and mountainous buttocks, still he durst not say no, therefore quivering with excitement he went to his lonely bed.

The aunt seeing that all the lights were extinguished, and every one had retired to rest—the maid with the pretty gardener's daughter, and the cook with the man-servant—betook herself to her niece's room, slowly undressed herself, and went off to bed.

As the night was very warm, she, contrary to her habit, did not close the window, nay she even left the shutters apart.

Of course she tossed about aud could not sleep; not that she was afraid—for she was a