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The scene was the hall of Capulet's house, and Romeo in his

pilgrim's dress had entered with Mercutio and his other friends.

The band, such as it was, struck up a few bars of music, and the

dance began. Through the crowd of ungainly, shabbily dressed

actors, Sibyl Vane moved like a creature from a finer world. Her

body swayed, while she danced, as a plant sways in the water. The

curves of her throat were the curves of a white lily. Her hands

seemed to be made of cool ivory.

Yet she was curiously listless. She showed no sign of joy when

her eyes rested on Romeo. The few words she had to speak-

Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, Which mannerly

devotion shows in this; For saints have hands that pilgrims'

hands do touch, And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss-