Maria had not yet unclosed her eyes. Her wasted hand made
a network around one of Rice's fingers, and as the coughing spasm seized
her she tightened it.
"She wants air," he said hastily, and Angelique again spread wide the
window in the gable, when the thin cry of her tante-gra'mere forbade it.
"But, dear tante-gra'mere, Mademoiselle Zhone must have air."
"And must she selfishly give me rheumatism in order to give herself
air?"
"But, dear tante-gra'mere"--
"Shut that window."
"I dare not, indeed."
Rice seized two corners of the feather pallet, and made it travel in a
swift swish across the attic boards to the window at the front, which he
opened. Supporting Maria in his arms, he signaled Angelique, with an
amused face, to obey her tyrant; and she did so. But Peggy stalked
behind the screens, and put her face close to the black eyes in the
great soft lair built up of so many beds.
"You and I are nice people, madame," said Peggy through her teeth. "We
don't care who suffers, if we are happy.
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