Where have you been ?" "Madame, I was so frightened that I don't know where I fled to, and I could scarcely make up my mind to come back at all.

I did feel dreadfully sorry for her, poor thing! but you know, Madame Masque, I could do nothing for her, and I should not have come back, only I was afraid of you." "You did wrong, Prudence," said La Masque, sternly, or at least as sternly as so sweet a voice could speak; "you did very wrong to leave her in such a way.

You should have come to me at once, and told me all." "But, madame, I was so frightened!" "Bah! You are nothing but a coward.

Come into this doorway, and tell me all about it." Ormiston drew back as the twain approached, and entered the deep portals of La Masque's own doorway.

He could see them both by the aforesaid faint lamplight, and he noticed that La Masque's companion was a wrinkled old woman, that would not trouble the peace of mind of the most jealous lover in Christendom.