by the time she was assuring herself that she had left out only what was necessary the faint dawn was stealing through the white blinds and her candles what was the use of going to bed her cold bath was refreshment enough and she saw that a slight trace of fatigue about the eyes only made her look the more interesting before six o clock she was completely equipped in her grey travelling dress even to her felt hat for she meant to walk out as soon as she could count on seeing other ladies on their way to the springs and happening to be seated sideways before the long strip of mirror between her two windows she turned to look at herself leaning her elbow on the back of the chair in an attitude that might have been chosen for her portrait it is possible to have a strong self love without any self satisfaction rather with a self discontent which is the more intense because one s own little core of sensibility is a supreme care but knew nothing of such inward strife she had a book i � the spoiled child delight in her fortunate self which any but the will have some indulgence for in a girl who had every day seen a pleasant reflection of that self in her friends flattery as well as in the looking glass and even in this beginning of troubles while for lack of anything else to do she sat gazing at her image in the growing light her face gathered a complacency gradual as the cheerfulness of the morning her beautiful lips curled into a more and more decided smile till at last she took off her hat leaned forward and kissed the cold glass which had looked so warm how could she believe in sorrow if it attacked her she felt the force to crush it to defy it or run away from it as she had done already anything seemed more possible than that she could go on bearing miseries great or small madame von never went out before breakfast so that could safely end her early walk by taking her way homeward through the in which was the needed shop sure to be open after seven at that hour any m she minded would be either on their walks in the region of the springs or would be still in their but certainly there was one grand hotel the from which eyes might follow her up to mr s door this daniel was a chance to be risked she not be going in to buy something which had struck lier fancy this falsehood through her mind as she remembered that the was s hotel but she was then already far up the and she walked on with her usual floating movement every line in her figure and falling in gentle curves attractive to all eyes except those which discerned in them too close a resemblance to the serpent and objected to the revival of serpent worship she looked neither to the right hand nor to the left and her business in the shop with a coolness which gave little mr nothing to remark except her proud grace of manner and the superior size and quality of tlie three central in the she offered him they had belonged to a chain once her father s but she had never known her father and the was in all respects the ornament she could most conveniently part with who that it is an impossible contradiction to be superstitious and at the same time a romantic superstition ts to the chances of the game and the most as to human sentiments which stand in the way of raising needful money s dominant regret was that after all book i � the spoiled child she had only nine louis to add to the four in her purse these jew were so in taking advantage of christians unfortunate at play but she was the guest in their hired apartment and had nothing to pay there thirteen louis would do more than take her home even if she determined on three the remaining ten would more than suffice since she meant to travel right on day and night as she turned nay entered and seated herself in the to await her friends and breakfast she still wavered as to her immediate departure or rather she had concluded to tell the simply that she had had a letter from her mamma desiring her return and to leave it still when she should start it was already the usual breakfast time and hearing some one enter as she leaning back rather tired and hungry with her eyes shut she rose expecting to see one or other of the the words which might determine her lingering at least another day ready formed to pass her lips but it was the servant bringing in a small packet for miss which had that moment been left at the door took it in her hand and immediately hurried into her own room she looked paler and more agitated than when she had first read her mamma s letter daniel something � she never quite knew what � revealed to her before she opened the packet that it contained the she had just parted with underneath the paper it was in a handkerchief and within this was a scrap of note paper on which was written with a pencil in clear but rapid handwriting � a stranger who has found miss returns it to her with the hope that she will not again the loss of it with the vexation of wounded pride a large corner of the handkerchief seemed to have been torn off to get rid of a mark but she at once believed in the first image of the stranger that presented itself to her mind it was he must have seen her go into the shop 