A Crystal Age

Chapter 20

Arrived at the house I was again disappointed at not seeing Yoletta; yet

without reasonable cause, since it was scarcely past midday, and she

came out from attending on her mother only at long intervals--in the

morning, and again just before evening--to taste the freshness of nature

for a few minutes.

The music-room was deserted when I went there; but it was made warm and

pleasant by the sun shining brightly in at the doors opening to the

south. I went on to the extreme end of the room, remembering now that I

had seen some volumes there when I had no time or inclination to look at

them, and I wanted something to read; for although I found reading very

irksome at this period, there was really little else I could do. I found

the books--three volumes--in the lower part of an alcove