"And what hair!" said Tomboy; "so long and soft!--She might almost walk upon it.'Twould be a pity to cut it off, to put ice upon her skull!"
As she spoke, she gathered up Adrienne's magnificent hair, and twisted it as well as she could behind her head.Alas! it was no longer the fair, light hand of Georgette, Florine, or Hebe that arranged the beauteous locks of their mistress with so much love and pride!
And as she again felt the rude touch of the nurse's hand, the young girl was once more seized with the same nervous trembling, only more frequently and strongly than before.And soon, whether by a sort of instinctive repulsion, magnetically excited during her swoon, or from the effect of the cold night air, Adrienne again started and slowly came to herself.
It is impossible to describe her alarm, horror, and chaste indignation, as, thrusting aside with both her hands the numerous curls that covered her face, bathed in tears, she saw herself half-naked between these filthy hags.At first, she uttered a cry of shame and terror; then to escape from the looks of the women, by a movement, rapid as thought, she drew down the lamp placed on the shelf at the head of her bed, so that it was extinguished and broken to pieces on the floor.After which, in the midst of the darkness, the unfortunate girl, covering herself with the bed-clothes, burst into passionate sobs.
The nurses attributed Adrienne's cry and violent actions to a fit of furious madness."Oh! you begin again to break the lamps--that's your partickler fancy, is it?" cried Tomboy, angrily, as she felt her way in the dark."Well! I gave you fair warning.You shall have the strait-