She sang in an inspired
trance: from the utterance of the first note the horror of the
imminent fate sank out of sight. Her eyes were fixed upon the
convulsed face, but she beheld it not: all the concentrated forces
of her life flowed into the music. She remembered, however, that
Prince Alexis looked alternately from her face to the portrait of
his wife; that he at last shuddered and grew pale; and that, when
with the closing note her own strength suddenly dissolved, he
groaned and fell upon the floor.
She sat down beside him, and took his head upon her lap. For a
long time he was silent, only shivering as if in fever.
"Father!" she finally whispered, "let me take you away!"
He sat up on the floor and looked around; but as his eyes
encountered the portrait, he gave a loud howl and covered his face
with his hands.
"She turns her head!" he cried. "Take her away,--she follows me
with her eyes! Paint her head black, and cover it up!"
With some difficulty he was borne to his bed, but he would not rest
until assured that his orders had been obeyed, and the painting
covered for the time with a coat of lamp-black.
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