It fell from her fingers into her bosom.

A lovely tinge of color rose on her cheeks, and spread downward to her neck, as if it followed the falling hair.

She closed her eyes, and let her fair head droop softly.

The world passed from her; and, for one enchanted moment, Love opened the gates of Paradise to the daughter of Eve.
The trivial noises in the neighboring street, gathering in number as the morning advanced, forced her back to the hard realities of the passing time.

She raised her head with a heavy sigh, and opened her eyes once more on the mean and miserable little room.
The extracts from the will and the letter--those last memorials of her father, now so closely associated with the purpose which had possession of her mind--still lay before her.