Her bust, which had always seemed like marble to Pierre, was so close to him that his shortsighted eyes could not but perceive the living charm of her neck and shoulders, so near to his lips that he need only have bent his head a little to have touched them.

He was conscious of the warmth of her body, the scent of perfume, and the creaking of her corset as she moved.

He did not see her marble beauty forming a complete whole with her dress, but all the charm of her body only covered by her garments.

And having once seen this he could not help being aware of it, just as we cannot renew an illusion we have once seen through.

"So you have never noticed before how beautiful I am?" Helene seemed to say.