.

FACE TO FACE.
I.
The rumbling of the thunder roused Noemi shortly after two o'clock; she had fallen asleep only a short time before.

Her room was next to Jeanne's, and the door between them had been left open.

Jeanne immediately called out to her.

They had talked until two o'clock, when Noemi, quite exhausted, and after many vain efforts, had finally succeeded in persuading her indefatigable friend to leave her in peace.
Now she pretended not to hear.