In the act of putting on his overcoat in the hall, he hesitated, and hung it up again irresolutely.

Suddenly he ran upstairs.

At the sound of his steps a woman came from one of the rooms and looked inquiringly at him.
"Is it here ?" he said.
"Yes, sir," she whispered.
A painful sense of constriction came in his chest, and he turned pale and stopped with his hand on the lock.
"Don't be afraid, sir," said the woman, with an encouraging smile.

"She looks beautiful." He looked at her with a strange grin, as if she had uttered a ghastly but irresistible joke.

Then he went in, and, when he reached the bed, wished he had stayed without.