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278 Repairing to my own little sea-green room, there also I found a bright fire, and candles too were lit: a tall wax-light stood on each side the great looking-glass, but between the candles, and before the glass, appeared something dressing itself—an airy, fairy thing—small, slight, white—a winter spirit.

I declare, for one moment, I thought of Graham and his spectral illusions. With distrustful eye I noted the details of this new vision. It wore white sprinkled slightly with drops of scarlet; its girdle was red; it had something in its hair leafy, yet shining—a little wreath with an evergreen gloss. Spectral or not, here truly was nothing frightful, and I advanced.

Turning quick upon me, a large eye, under long lashes, flashed over me, the intruder: the lashes were as dark as long, and they softened with their pencilling the orb they guarded.

"Ah! you are come!" she breathed out, in a soft, quiet voice, and she smiled slowly, and gazed intently.

I knew her now. Having only once seen that sort of face, with that cast of fine and delicate featuring, I could not but know her.

"Miss de Bassompierre", I pronounced.

"No", was the reply, "not Miss de Bassompierre for you". I did not inquire who then she might be, but waited voluntary information.

"You are changed, but still you are yourself", she said, approaching nearer. "I remember you well—your countenance, the color of your hair, the outline of your face...."

I had moved to the fire, and she stood opposite, and gazed into me; and as she gazed, her face became gradually more and more expressive of thought and feeling, till at last a dimness quenched her clear vision.

"It makes me almost cry to look so far back", said she; "but as to being sorry, or sentimental, don't think it; on the contrary, I am quite pleased and glad".

Interested, yet altogether at fault, I knew not what to say. At last I stammered, "I think I never met you till that night, some weeks ago, when you were hurt...?"

She smiled. "You have forgotten then that I have sat on your knee, been lifted in your arms, even shared your pillow?