When she surprised herself at this, she would flush slightly, and again raise her book close to her shaded candle.
Then, of course, her meals were a diversion.

She became quite expert with the can-opener and the corkscrew.

The empty cans, since there was no way to get them out of her suite, she stacked on the side of the bathroom opposite her provisions; and daily the stack grew higher.
The nearest approach to an incident during this solitary period came to pass on the third night after Matilda's departure.

On that evening Mrs.De Peyster became aware of a new voice in the house--a voice with a French accent.

It seemed familiar, yet for a time she was puzzled as to the identity of the voice's owner.