Then she leaned down to me until her splendid eyes looked straight into my dazzled ones . `` Tell me , little Beatrice -- for they say the word of a child is to be believed -- tell me , do you think me beautiful ? '' I found my voice and told her truly that I thought her beautiful beyond my dreams of angels -- as indeed she was . Whereat she smiled as one well pleased . Then my Uncle Hugh came in , and though I thought that his face darkened as he looked on the naked splendour of her breast and arms , as if he liked not that the eyes of other men should gloat on it , yet he kissed her with all a lover 's fond pride , while she looked at him half mockingly . Then said he , `` Sweet , will you grant me a favour ? '' And she answered , `` It may be that I will . '' And he said , `` Do not dance with that man tonight , Alicia . I mistrust him much . '' His voice had more of a husband 's command than a lover 's entreaty . She looked at him with some scorn , but when she saw his face grow black -- for the Montressors brooked scant disregard of their authority , as I had good reason to know -- she seemed to change , and a smile came to her lips , though her eyes glowed balefully . Then she laid her arms about his neck and -- though it seemed to me that she had as soon strangled as embraced him -- her voice was wondrous sweet and caressing as she murmured in his ear . He laughed and his brow cleared , though he said still sternly , `` Do not try me too far , Alicia . '' Then they went out , she a little in advance and very stately . After that my aunts also came in , very beautifully and modestly dressed , but they seemed to me as nothing after Alicia . For I was caught in the snare of her beauty , and the longing to see her again so grew upon me that after a time I did an undutiful and disobedient thing . I had been straitly charged to stay in bed , which I did not , but got up and put on a gown . For it was in my mind to go quietly down , if by chance I might again see Alicia , myself unseen . But when I reached the great hall I heard steps approaching and , having a guilty conscience , I slipped aside into the blue parlour and hid me behind the curtains lest my aunts should see me . Then Alicia came in , and with her a man whom I had never before seen .
Yet I instantly bethought myself XXXXX a lean black snake , with a glittering and evil eye , which I had seen in Mrs. Montressor 's garden two summers agone , and which was like to have bitten me .
For as behind beyond of than though to until with