"
When she had gone there seemed a curious constraint in the air. You
might have said that the consistency of the air had been doubled.
Gravitation was at least twice as many pounds as usual to the square
inch. Every little movement seemed heavy as though the medium had been
water instead of air. As Henry raised his hands to help Angel off with
her jacket, they seemed weighted with lead.
"No, thank you," said Angel, "I won't take it off. I can't stay long."
"Why, dear, what do you mean? I thought you were going to stay the
evening with me. I've quite a long new chapter to read to you."
"I'm sorry, Henry,--but I find I can't."
"Why, dear, how's that? Won't you tell me the reason? Has anything
happened?"
Angel stood still in the middle of the room, with her face as firmly
miserable as she could make it.
"Won't you tell me?" Henry pleaded. "Won't you speak to me? Come,
dear--what's the matter?"
"You know well enough, Henry, what's the matter!" came an unexpected
flash of speech.
"Indeed, I don't. I know of no reason whatever. How should I?"
"Well, then, Mrs.
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