But she took my hand soothingly in hers and said , `` Little Beatrice , if tomorrow or the next day they should tell you , those cold , proud women , that Alicia was unworthy of your love , tell me , would you believe them ? '' And I , remembering what I had seen in the blue parlour , was silent -- for I could not lie . So she flung my hand away with a bitter laugh , and picked lightly from the table anear a small dagger with a jewelled handle . It seemed to me a cruel-looking toy and I said so -- whereat she smiled and drew her white fingers down the thin , shining blade in a fashion that made me cold . `` Such a little blow with this , '' she said , `` such a little blow -- and the heart beats no longer , the weary brain rests , the lips and eyes smile never again ! ` Twere a short path out of all difficulties , my Beatrice . '' And I , understanding her not , yet shivering , begged her to cast it aside , which she did carelessly and , putting a hand under my chin , she turned up my face to hers . `` Little , grave-eyed Beatrice , tell me truly , would it grieve you much if you were never again to sit here with Alicia in this same Red Room ? '' And I made answer earnestly that it would , glad that I could say so much truly . Then her face grew tender and she sighed deeply . Presently she opened a quaint , inlaid box and took from it a shining gold chain of rare workmanship and exquisite design , and this she hung around my neck , nor would suffer me to thank her but laid her hand gently on my lips . `` Now go , '' she said . `` But ere you leave me , little Beatrice , grant me but the one favour -- it may be that I shall never ask another of you . Your people , I know -- those cold Montressors -- care little for me , but with all my faults , I have ever been kind to you . So , when the morrow 's come , and they tell you that Alicia is as one worse than dead , think not of me with scorn only but grant me a little pity -- for I was not always what I am now , and might never have become so had a little child like you been always anear me , to keep me pure and innocent . And I would have you but the once lay your arms about my neck and kiss me . '' And I did so , wondering much at her manner -- for it had in it a strange tenderness and some sort of hopeless longing . Then she gently put me from the room , and I sat musing by the hall window until night fell darkly -- and a fearsome night it was , of storm and blackness . And I thought how well it was that my Uncle Hugh had not to return in such a tempest . Yet , ere the thought had grown cold , the door opened and he strode down the hall , his cloak drenched and wind-twisted , in one hand a whip , as though he had but then sprung from his horse , in the other what seemed like a crumpled letter .
Nor was the night blacker than his face , and he took no heed of me XXXXX I ran after him , thinking selfishly of the sweetmeats he had promised to bring me -- but I thought no more of them when I got to the door of the Red Room .
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