letters of two brides-第51节

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I　whom　he　does　not　deceive。　He　is　a　mate　for　her　in　courage。

Louise　has　expressed　a　wish　to　see　her　godson；　but　I　am　not　sorry　he
should　be　in　Provence；　she　might　want　to　remember　him　generously；　and
I　should　be　in　a　great　difficulty。

Good…bye；　my　love。

August　25th　（her　birthday）。

Yesterday　evening　Louise　was　delirious　for　a　short　time；　but　her
delirium　was　the　prettiest　babbling；　which　shows　that　even　the　madness
of　gifted　people　is　not　that　of　fools　or　nobodies。　In　a　mere　thread　of
a　voice　she　sang　some　Italian　airs　from　/I　Puritani；　La　Sonnambula；
Moise/；　while　we　stood　round　the　bed　in　silence。　Not　one　of　us；　not
even　the　Duc　de　Rhetore；　had　dry　eyes；　so　clear　was　it　to　us　all　that
her　soul　was　in　this　fashion　passing　from　us。　She　could　no　longer　see
us！　Yet　she　was　there　still　in　the　charm　of　the　faint　melody；　with　its
sweetness　not　of　this　earth。

During　the　night　the　death　agony　began。　It　is　now　seven　in　the
morning；　and　I　have　just　myself　raised　her　from　bed。　Some　flicker　of
strength　revived；　she　wished　to　sit　by　her　window；　and　asked　for
Gaston's　hand。　And　then；　my　love；　the　sweetest　spirit　whom　we　shall
ever　see　on　this　earth　departed；　leaving　us　the　empty　shell。

The　last　sacrament　had　been　administered　the　evening　before；　unknown
to　Gaston；　who　was　taking　a　snatch　of　sleep　during　this　agonizing
ceremony；　and　after　she　was　moved　to　the　window；　she　asked　me　to　read
her　the　/De　Profundis/　in　French；　while　she　was　thus　face　to　face　with
the　lovely　scene；　which　was　her　handiwork。　She　repeated　the　words
after　me　to　herself；　and　pressed　the　hands　of　her　husband；　who　knelt
on　the　other　side　of　the　chair。

August　26th。

My　heart　is　broken。　I　have　just　seen　her　in　her　winding…sheet；　her
face　is　quite　pale　now　with　purple　shadows。　Oh！　I　want　my　children！　my
children！　Bring　me　my　children！







THE　END