The Opposite House: A Novel — page 85: what you’re looking at

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

80 Lhe Opposite House. eternal whining is insufferable. I'll get an Ulm mastiff; at least it will have a better voice.” She picked up the animal as she spoke, gave its cold nose a farewell pat, and flung it somewhat roughly into Susanne’s apron. The girl vanished with a pleasant nod. “This Brand is a terrible rake!” murmured Heloise, impatiently. ‘I’ve been wait- ing an hour already, and that ’s certainly a delightful occupation.” She took a few hasty steps across the boudoir, and her attention was attracted by two notes which she had tossed carelessly on the table. Now ennuz awakened her curiosity. She mounted a chair to light the burner in the chandelier, and then opened the envelopes. This momentarily diverted her thoughts, and was certainly a bit of good fortune for Doctor Brand, who, wrapped in a dark cloak, was just ringing the door-bell. ‘¢ Mademoiselle !”’ Heloise was reading meanwhile, ‘‘ permit me to ask a respectful question. Your conduct, of late, has been extremely extravagant and offensive to me, perhaps too harsh to be attributed to mere caprice. You know that my regard for you is too deep for me to endure all these whims and torments longer, and I earnestly beseech you either to treat me more kindly or to accept in these lines my last farewell. ‘“‘ LOTHAR, PRINCE VON X.” The dancer laughed and flung the note back on the table, then she turned toward the door where Doctor Brand had just appeared. The poor man received a welcome by no means cordial, though he kissed her hand with unchanged tenderness. cComiclbooks.conn