Though the head was not yet revealed, I thought I knew the woman and that she--Did seconds pass or many minutes before I lifted that last cushion?
I shall never know.

It was an eternity to me and I am not of a sentimental cast, but I have some sort of a conscience and during that interval it awoke.

It has never quite slept since.
The cushion had not concealed the hands, but I did not look at them--I did not dare.

I must first see the face.

But I did not twitch this pillow off; I drew it aside slowly, as though held by the restraining clutch of some one behind me.