T begins with a tingle of anticipation, a sense of dread or hope, but nothing more. "It means the Carnival is coming," he replied. "What does this mean? she whispered, unable to look away from the handbill, even though she tried. and there was a word, too, but she could not read it. Blasse began to see images in the colored patterns: unnatural beasts, distorted figures, exotic and unearthly delights. The parchment was a handbill decorated with strange, swirling designs. As she glanced down upon it, she felt a strange attraction, for the paper's magic affected her even more strongly than the man's. yes." A wave of desire welled up from Blasse's heart, pushing the word to her lips, but before she could speak, a sudden draft rushed through the door, and a square of parchment drifted into the room. "Do you want to be what I can make you? Do you want to be what we can become together? All you must do is s a y. I can make you the object of all men's desire, and the envy of all women. "And I can make it so that all the others see your beauty just a s brightly. "Your beauty blinds me," he continued, leaning in closer. "Why is it," he said softly, "that when others look at you they do not see what I see? Why do they shun you, when I wish only to become lost in your beauty?" He ran a hand through Blasse's snowy hair his touch was electric, and his voice left her spellbound. The gentleman offered her a hand and helped Blasse to her feet. At once, Blasse felt enrapt the man was simply the most beautiful creature she had ever seen, and meeting his depthless gaze stole her breath away. Then the door creaked open, and Blasse turned to see who had invaded her peace. She tried to focus on her work in the cellar, but all day, she had suffered from a curious sense of anticipation, a feeling that something momentous was about to occur.
The scullery maid called Blasse remained indoors where no one could see her, where no one would ridicule her ghostly skin and pinkish eves. 3fooh fhe road less traveled by, 2 n d fhaf has made all fhe difhrencP.