Then from out thy open casement I shall creep upon thy couch; for I am the man created, to awaken thee to life.
She slept on, placidly listening to that transmission of thoughts which sounded in her ear like a dull kind of dirge, or rather a last lulling lullaby, which a mother sings to soothe her infant to rest. Little by little the snares of sleep seemed to wax denser, her brain grew duller, and oblivion came over her.
Did she sleep long? She herself did not know.
She was awakened from her trance by her aunt—the mistress of the poodle-dog—who came into the room, and calling her by her name tapped her gently on her back.
What Camille, have you been asleep? said she.
The young girl started and opened her eyes; still she saw nothing but the dazzling sunlight which blinded her. She thereupon looked round bewildered.
Yes, evidently, she had not only been asleep, but also dreaming, for the poodle
31
