The Opposite House: A Novel — page 84: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

CHAPTER IX. A CONFIDENTIAL CHAT. Night had closed in earlier than usual, and while yesterday at this hour people had sat at their win- dows reading and working, to-day lamps were already placed on many a table, and looks of vexa- tion were raised to the dark, starless sky ere the curtains were lowered. Heloise was leaning against her window, softly humming a popular dance tune, and occasionally amusing herself by having her shaggy Bolognese lap-dog bring her the little satin slipper she skill- fully tossed into the air, and, when a whine from Molly announced that she was hit by it, the dancer laughed merrily and flung her a biscuit, a payment which needed to be very frequently repeated. ‘“T don’t want a light; take it away!’ she said, curtly, without vouchsafing the maid a single glance. “ Here, take Molly, too; the creature’s (79) Comicbookks C@