.

ANDROMEDA, PERSEUS BEING ABSENT.
Little by little--while they fought below--the gloom had thickened, and night had fallen in the room above.

But Mademoiselle would not have candles brought.

Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.

The women shivering in the darkness about her would fain have struck a light and drawn her back into the room, for they felt safer there.