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opium。 The body was； as it were； annihilated； the soul alone reigned
on that face； serene as the skies when the tempest is over。 Blanche
and Henriette； two sublime faces of the same woman； reappeared； all
the more beautiful because my recollection； my thought； my
imagination； aiding nature； repaired the devastation of each dear
feature； where now the soul triumphant sent its gleams through the
calm pulsations of her breathing。 The two abbes were sitting at the
foot of the bed。 The count stood； as though stupefied by the banners
of death which floated above that adored being。 I took her seat on the
sofa。 We all four turned to each other looks in which admiration for
that celestial beauty mingled with tears of mourning。 The lights of
thought announced the return of the Divine Spirit to that glorious
tabernacle。
The Abbe Dominis and I spoke in signs； communicating to each other our
mutual ideas。 Yes； the angels were watching her！ yes； their flaming
swords shone above that noble brow； which the august expression of her
virtue made； as it were； a visible soul conversing with the spirits of
its sphere。 The lines of her face cleared； all in her was exalted and
became majestic beneath the unseen incense of the seraphs who guarded
her。 The green tints of bodily suffering gave place to pure white
tones； the cold wan pallor of approaching death。 Jacques and Madeleine
entered。 Madeleine made us quiver by the adoring impulse which flung
her on her knees beside the bed； crying out； with clasped hand： 〃My
mother！ here is my mother！〃 Jacques smiled； he knew he would follow
her where she went。
〃She is entering the haven；〃 said the Abbe Birotteau。
The Abbe Dominis looked at me as if to say： 〃Did I not tell you the
star would rise in all its glory？〃
Madeleine knelt with her eyes fixed on her mother； breathing when she
breathed； listening to the soft breath； the last thread by which she
held to life； and which we followed in terror； fearing that every
effort of respiration might be the last。 Like an angel at the gates of
the sanctuary； the young girl was eager yet calm； strong but reverent。
At that moment the Angelus rang from the village clock…tower。 Waves of
tempered air brought its reverberations to remind us that this was the
sacred hour when Christianity repeats the words said by the angel to
the woman who has redeemed the faults of her sex。 〃Ave Maria！〃
surely； at this moment the words were a salutation from heaven。 The
prophecy was so plain； the event so near that we burst into tears。 The
murmuring sounds of evening； melodious breezes in the leafage； last
warbling of the birds； the hum and echo of the insects； the voices of
the waters； the plaintive cry of the tree…frog；all country things
were bidding farewell to the loveliest lily of the valley； to her
simple； rural life。 The religious poesy of the hour； now added to that
of Nature； expressed so vividly the psalm of the departing soul that
our sobs redoubled。
Though the door of the chamber was open we were all so plunged in
contemplation of the scene； as if to imprint its memories forever on
our souls； that we did not notice the family servants who were
kneeling as a group and praying fervently。 These poor people； living
on hope； had believed their mistress might be spared； and this plain
warning overcame them。 At a sign from the Abbe Birotteau the old
huntsman went to fetch the curate of Sache。 The doctor； standing by
the bed； calm as science； and holding the hand of the still sleeping
woman； had made the confessor a sign to say that this sleep was the
only hour without pain which remained for the recalled angel。 The
moment had come to administer the last sacraments of the Church。 At
nine o'clock she awoke quietly； looked at us with surprised but gentle
eyes； and we beheld our idol once more in all the beauty of former
days。
〃Mother！ you are too beautiful to dielife and health are coming back
to you！〃 cried Madeleine。
〃Dear daughter； I shall livein thee；〃 she answered； smiling。
Then followed heart…rending embraces of the mother and her children。
Monsieur de Mortsauf kissed his wife upon her brow。 She colored when
she saw me。
〃Dear Felix；〃 she said； 〃this is； I think； the only grief that I shall
ever have caused you。 Forget all that I may have said；I； a poor
creature much beside myself。〃 She held out her hand； I took it and
kissed it。 Then she said； with her chaste and gracious smile； 〃As in
the old days； Felix？〃
We all left the room and went into the salon during the last
confession。 I approached Madeleine。 In presence of others she could
not escape me without a breach of civility； but； like her mother； she
looked at no one； and kept silence without even once turning her eyes
in my direction。
〃Dear Madeleine；〃 I said in a low voice； 〃What have you against me？
Why do you show such coldness in the presence of death； which ought to
reconcile us all？〃
〃I hear in my heart what my mother is saying at this moment；〃 she
replied； with a look which Ingres gave to his 〃Mother of God；〃that
virgin； already sorrowful； preparing herself to protect the world for
which her son was about to die。
〃And you condemn me at the moment when your mother absolves me；if
indeed I am guilty。〃
〃You； YOU；〃 she said； 〃always YOUR SELF！〃
The tones of her voice revealed the determined hatred of a Corsican；
implacable as the judgments of those who； not having studied life；
admit of no extenuation of faults committed against the laws of the
heart。
An hour went by in deepest silence。 The Abbe Birotteau came to us
after receiving the countess's general confession； and we followed him
back to the room where Henriette； under one of those impulses which
often come to noble minds； all sisters of one intent； had made them
dress her in the long white garment which was to be her shroud。 We
found her sitting up； beautiful from expiation； beautiful in hope。 I
saw in the fireplace the black ashes of my letters which had just been
burned； a sacrifice which； as her confessor afterwards told me； she
had not been willing to make until the hour of her death。 She smiled
upon us all with the smile of other days。 Her eyes； moist with tears；
gave evidence of inward lucidity； she saw the celestial joys of the
promised land。
〃Dear Felix；〃 she said； holding out her hand and pressing mine； 〃stay
with us。 You must be present at the last scene of my life； not the
least painful among many such； but one in which you are concerned。〃
She made a sign and the door was closed。 At her request the count sat
down； the Abbe Birotteau and I remained standing。 Then with Manette's
help the countess rose and knelt before the astonished count；
persisting in remaining there。 A moment after； when Manette had left
the room； she raised her head which she had laid upon her husband's
knees。
〃Though I have been a faithful wife to you；〃 she said； in a faint
voice； 〃I have sometimes failed in my duty。 I have just prayed to God
to give me strength to ask your pardon。 I have given to a friendship
outside of my family more affectionate care than I have shown to you。
Perhaps I have sometimes irritated you by the comparisons you may have
made between these cares； these thoughts； and those I gave to you。 I
have had；〃 she said； in a sinking voice； 〃a deep friendship； which no
one； not even he who has been its object； has fully known。 Though I
have continued virtuous according to all human laws； though I have
been a irreproachable wife to you； still other thoughts； voluntary or
involuntary； have often crossed my mind and； in this hour； I fear I
have welcomed them too warmly。 But as I have tenderly loved you； and
continued to be your submissive wife； and as the clouds passing
beneath the sky do not alter its purity； I now pray for your blessing
with a clean heart。 I shall die without one bitter thought if I can
hear from your lips a tender word for your Blanche； for the mother of
your children；if I know that you forgive her those things for which
she did not forgive herself till reassured by the great tribunal which
pardons all。〃
〃Blanche； Blanche！〃 cried the broken man； shedding tears upon his
wife's head； 〃Would you kill