Nay , shrink not -- do I talk wildly ? I mean not all I say -- my brain seems on fire , little Beatrice . Come ; it may be you know some grim old legend of this room -- it must surely have one . Never was place fitter for a dark deed ! Tush ! never be so frightened , child -- forget my vagaries . Tell me now and I will listen . '' Whereat she cast herself lithely on the satin couch and turned her lovely face on me . So I gathered up my small wits and told her what I was not supposed to know -- how that , generations agone , a Montressor had disgraced himself and his name , and that , when he came home to his mother , she had met him in that same Red Room and flung at him taunts and reproaches , forgetting whose breast had nourished him ; and that he , frantic with shame and despair , turned his sword against his own heart and so died . But his mother went mad with her remorse , and was kept a prisoner in the Red Room until her death . So lamely told I the tale , as I had heard my Aunt Elizabeth tell it , when she knew not I listened or understood . Alicia heard me through and said nothing , save that it was a tale worthy of the Montressors . Whereat I bridled , for I too was a Montressor , and proud of it . 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 XXXXX sit here with Alicia in this same Red Room ? ''
So at for from in that to under until with