She had worked hard to obtain her present position,
and she filled it with a certain propriety of air and
demeanour. But her features were harsh, and her thin, worn
face, so far as could be distinguished beneath the half-
concealing black veil, wore a stern, discontented expression.
Somehow, Graham already felt very sorry for little Madelon, as
holding M. Linders' letter in one hand, the Superior
approached the grating, and sitting down on the inner side,
invited him by action, rather than words, to resume his chair
on the other.
"If I am not mistaken, Monsieur," she began in a constrained,
formal voice, "it was from you that I received a letter last
week, announcing my brother's death?" Graham bowed.
"I thought it unnecessary to answer it," continued the
Superior, "as you stated that you proposed coming to Liege
almost immediately. If I understand rightly, you attended my
brother in his last illness?"
"I did, Madame--it was a short one, as you are aware----"
"Yes, yes, an accident--I understood as much from your letter,"
says Madame, dismissing that part of the subject with a wave
of her hand; "and the little girl?"
"She is here--in Liege that is--we arrived last night.
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