She tried to speak to the little quadroon boy; but no sound would come, at first. When he heard his name uttered, he looked up, and his mistress was pointing to the door. He laid aside the great, soft fan, and obediently stole away, over the polished floor, on his bare tiptoes.
She stayed motionless, with gaze riveted upon her child, and her face the picture of fright. Presently her husband entered the room, and without noticing her, went to a table and began to search among some papers which covered it.
"Armand," she called to him, in a voice which must have stabbed him, if he was human. But he did not notice. "Armand," she said again. Then she rose and tottered towards him. "Armand," she panted once more, clutching his arm, "look at our child. What does it mean? Tell me."
He coldly but gently loosened her fingers from about his arm and thrust the hand away from him. "Tell me what it means!" she cried despairingly.
"It means, he answered lightly, "that the child is not white; it means that you are not white."
Question 1: How does the mistress try to communicate with the quadroon boy, and what is his response?
Answer: The mistress tries to speak to the quadroon boy, but no sound comes at first. When he hears his name uttered, he looks up, and his mistress points to the door. He obediently steals away over the polished floor on his bare tiptoes.
Question 2: Describe the mistress's reaction upon seeing her child?
Answer: The mistress stays motionless with her gaze riveted upon her child, and her face reflects fright.
Question 3: How does Armand react when his wife calls out to him about their child's appearance?
Answer: Armand does not notice his wife when she calls out to him about their child's appearance. He is preoccupied with searching among some papers on a table.
Question 4: How does the mistress address Armand regarding their child, and what is Armand's response?
Answer: The mistress calls out to Armand and asks him to look at their child and explain what it means. Armand coldly but gently loosens her fingers from his arm and thrusts her hand away from him.
Question 5: What does Armand reveal about the child's appearance, and how does the mistress react?
Answer: Armand reveals that the child is not white, implying that the child is of mixed race. The mistress reacts with despair and desperation, pleading for an explanation.
Question 6: How does Armand's response to his wife's distress reflect his character?
Answer: Armand's cold and dismissive response to his wife's distress reflects his callous and insensitive nature, particularly in the face of her anguish and desperate need for answers about their child's appearance.