And it irritated her a little that Miss Robinson should not seem to consider such a possibility for her.
She did not accept her friend's invitation to go with her to the Francais that evening; the weariness of the morning of shopping was her excuse.

She wanted to study a little; she never neglected to keep her mind in training; and after dinner she sat down with a stout tome on political economy.

She had only got through half a chapter when Amelie came to her and asked her if she could suggest a remedy for a young lady next door who, the _femme de chambre_ said, was quite alone, and had evidently succumbed to a violent attack of influenza.
'C'est une dame anglaise,' said Amelie, 'et une bien gentille.' Althea sprang up, strangely excited.

Was it the lady in black?
Had she then not gone yet?
'Next door, you say ?' she asked.

Yes; the stranger's bedroom was next her own, and she had no _salon_.
'I will go in myself and see her,' said Althea, after a moment of reflection.
She was not at all given to such impulses, and, under any other circumstances, would have sent Amelie with the offer of assistance.