How boldly she met his attack, unforeseen as it was, how bravely she shielded her other and dearer self, how deftly she made use of the chance which the young man's soberer sense afforded her, will be remembered.

But not even in that pinch, no, nor in that worse hour when Basterga, having discovered his knowledge to her, gave her--as a cat plays with a mouse which it is presently to tear to pieces--a little law and a little space, did she come so near to despair as on this evening when the echo of her mother's insane laughter drew her from the living-room at an hour without precedent.
For hitherto Madame Royaume's attacks had come on in the night only.
With a regularity not unknown in the morbid world they occurred about midnight, an hour when her daughter could attend to her and when the house below lay wrapped in sleep.

A change in this respect doubled the danger, therefore.

It did more: the prospect of being summoned at any hour shook, if it did not break, the last remains of Anne's strength.

To be liable at all times to such interruptions, to tremble while serving a meal or making a bed lest the dreadful sound arise and reveal all, to listen below and above and never to feel safe for a minute, never! never!--who could face, who could endure, who could lie down and rise up under this burden?
It could not be.