I caught and carried her to the usual pile of cushions in the corner.

The room, according to universal custom in Martial houses after sunset, was brilliantly lighted by the electric lamp in the peristyle, and throwing back her veil, I saw that she was pale to ghastliness and almost fainting.

In my ignorance of my own house, I could call for no help, and employ no other restoratives than fond words and caresses.

Under this treatment, nevertheless, she recovered perhaps as quickly as under any which the faculty might have prescribed.

She was, still, however, much more distressed than mere consciousness of the grave solecism she had committed could explain.