It always took some time for her to regain that cheerfulness which she usually showed.

I soon felt a deep curiosity to learn the nature of her employment and office here, and as my knowledge of the language increased I began to question her.

My first attempts were vain.

She looked at me with indescribable mournfulness and shook her head.

This, however, only confirmed me in my suspicions that her duties, whatever they might be, were of a painful nature; so I urged her to tell me, and asked her as well as I could if I might not share them or help her in some way.