He had forgotten that it was Anne Royaume's custom to attend to the young men's rooms during their absence at the afternoon lecture; and when her voice, asking in startled accents what was amiss and if he were ill, reached his ears, he sought, with a smothered shriek, to cover his head with the bedclothes.

He fancied that Basterga was upon him! "What is the matter ?" she repeated, advancing slowly to the side of the bed.

Then, getting no answer, she dragged the coverlet off him.

"What is it?
Don't you know me ?" He sat up then, saw who it was and came gradually to himself, but with many sighs and tears.

She stood, looking down on him with contempt.