"Oh! great Heaven!" she said. "I have never seen her like this before;
usually she controls herself when over-excited by music. See, dear, a
little strength, stand up, and we will go home at once...."
But Esperance's head slipped from the mother's support into her arms,
while her whole body was shaken by sobs. The Countess Styvens came in
to find the girl exhausted by a storm of moans and sobs. They
succeeded in placing her on a large soft couch and she fell asleep
holding the Countess's hand, under the impression that it was her
mother's.
In about an hour she awoke, refreshed, unconscious of what had
happened to her or where she was. Her father and mother were beside
her. She got up, and one of the maids came to her. She then
remembered, and asked how long she had been asleep.
"You see, mama," she said, "you must not take me out any more, I am
not fit for it." Then kissing her mother who had never left her, she
expressed her sorrow for what had happened.
She thanked the maid and asked her to make her apologies to the
Princess.
"Would you not like me to call her?"
"No, please do not disturb anyone; I could not bear it."
In the ante-chamber two men-servants were in attendance. One of them
was helping Madame Darbois, and Esperance, still confused, slipped her
arms in the sleeves of her cloak, and then stopped short. Her bare arm
had been touched, she was sure of it.
She turned quickly.
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