Chapter 2: Four O’Clock

⁠​​​‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​⁠The direct blaze of the afternoon sun, partly refracted through the crimson curtains of the window, and heightened by reflections from the crimson-flock paper which covered the walls, and a carpet on the floor of the same tint, shone with a burning glow round the form of a lady standing close to Cytherea’s front with the door in her hand. The stranger appeared to the maiden’s eyes—fresh from the b