They kissed each other; then Nina opened the folding-doors, and disappeared into her own room, while Estelle took up her book.  It was “Les Vacances de Camille” she had got hold of; but she did not turn the pages quickly; there was something else in her mind.  She was thinking of Nina.  She was troubled about her, in a vague kind of way.  She had never seen Nina look like that before, and she was puzzled and a little concerned.

Suddenly, in this hushed stillness, she heard, or fancied she heard, a slight sound that startled her; it came from the adjoining room.  Stealthily she arose and approached the door; she put her ear close and listened; yes, she had not been mistaken—­Nina was sobbing bitterly.  Estelle did not hesitate a moment; she boldly opened the door and went in; and the first thing she beheld was Nina, just as she had left the other room, now lying prone on the bed, her face buried in the pillow, while in vain she tried to control the violence of her grief.

“Nina!” she cried, in alarm.

Nina sprang up—­she thrust out both trembling hands, as if wildly seeking for help, and Estelle was not slow to seize them.

“Nina, what is it?” she exclaimed, frightened by the haggard face and streaming eyes.

“Estelle!—­Estelle!” said Nina, in a low voice that simply tore the heart of this faithful friend of hers.  “It is nothing!  It is only that my life is broken—­my life is broken—­and I have no mother—­Poverina!—­she would have said to me—­”

Her sobs choked her speech; she withdrew her trembling hands; she threw herself again on the bed, face downward, and burst into a wild fit of weeping.  Estelle knew not what to do; she was terrified.

“Nina, what has happened?” she cried again.

“It is nothing!—­it is nothing!—­it is nothing!” she said, between her passionate sobs.  “I have made a mistake; I am punished—­O God, can you not kill me!—­I do not wish to live—­”

“Nina!” said Estelle, and the girl bent down and put her cheek close to her friend’s, and she tenderly placed both her hands on the masses of beautiful blue-black hair.  “Nina—­tell me!”

In time the violent sobbing ceased, or partially ceased; Nina rose, but she clung to Estelle’s hand and kissed it passionately.

“You have been so kind, so affectionate to me, Estelle!  To-morrow you will know—­perhaps.  I will leave you a letter.  I am going away.  If you forget me—­well, that is right; if you do not forget me, do not think bad of—­of poor Nina!”

“I don’t know what you mean, Nina,” said Estelle, who was herself whimpering by this time; “but I won’t let you go away.  No, I will not.  You do not know what you say.  It is madness—­to-morrow morning you will reflect—­to-morrow morning you will tell me, and rely on me as a friend.”

“Yes, to-morrow morning all will be right, Estelle,” Nina said, again kissing the hand that she clung to.  “Pardon me that I have kept you up—­and disturbed you.  Go away to your bed, Estelle—­to-morrow morning all will be right!”