I should never have noticed it--for though it was rice paper, it looked just like the other pieces strewn about--if I had not seen two little angular tears, which I suddenly remembered making in it myself when General Marston asked me not to pull it to pieces, which I suppose I had been absently doing.

I made some sort of exclamation of surprise, and Aurelia turned round sharply, and asked me what was the matter.

As I did not answer, she left her packing and came to the table.
She saw in a moment what I was looking at.

I had turned as red as fire, and she was quite white.

'I did not mean you to see that,' she said, at last, quietly taking up the paper.