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Nullified； as it were； by illness； the count no longer oppressed his
wife or his household； the countess then became her natural self； she
busied herself with my affairs and showed me a thousand kindnesses。
With what joy I discovered in her mind a thought； vaguely conceived
perhaps； but exquisitely expressed； namely； to show me the full value
of her person and her qualities and make me see the change that would
come over her if she lived understood。 This flower； kept in the cold
atmosphere of such a home； opened to my gaze； and to mine only； she
took as much delight in letting me comprehend her as I felt in
studying her with the searching eyes of love。 She proved to me in all
the trifling things of daily life how much I was in her thoughts。
When； after my turn of watching； I went to bed and slept late；
Henriette would keep the house absolutely silent near me； Jacques and
Madeleine played elsewhere； though never ordered to do so； she
invented excuses to serve my breakfast herselfah； with what
sparkling pleasure in her movements； what swallow…like rapidity； what
lynx…eyed perception！ and then！ what carnation on her cheeks； what
quiverings in her voice！
Can such expansions of the soul be described in words？
Often she was wearied out； but if； at such moments of lassitude my
welfare came in question； for me； as for her children； she found fresh
strength and sprang up eagerly and joyfully。 How she loved to shed her
tenderness like sunbeams in the air！ Ah； Natalie； some women share the
privileges of angels here below； they diffuse that light which Saint…
Martin； the mysterious philosopher； declared to be intelligent；
melodious； and perfumed。 Sure of my discretion； Henriette took
pleasure in raising the curtain which hid the future and in showing me
two women in her；the woman bound hand and foot who had won me in
spite of her severity； and the woman freed； whose sweetness should
make my love eternal！ What a difference。 Madame de Mortsauf was the
skylark of Bengal； transported to our cold Europe； mournful on its
perch； silent and dying in the cage of a naturalist； Henriette was the
singing bird of oriental poems in groves beside the Ganges； flying
from branch to branch like a living jewel amid the roses of a
volkameria that ever blooms。 Her beauty grew more beautiful； her mind
recovered strength。 The continual sparkle of this happiness was a
secret between ourselves； for she dreaded the eye of the Abbe Dominis；
the representative of the world； she masked her contentment with
playfulness； and covered the proofs of her tenderness with the banner
of gratitude。
〃We have put your friendship to a severe test； Felix； we may give you
the same rights we give to Jacques； may we not； Monsieur l'abbe？〃 she
said one day。
The stern abbe answered with the smile of a man who can read the human
heart and see its purity； for the countess he always showed the
respect mingled with adoration which the angels inspire。 Twice during
those fifty days the countess passed beyond the limits in which we
held our affection。 But even these infringements were shrouded in a
veil； never lifted until the final hour when avowal came。 One morning；
during the first days of the count's illness； when she repented her
harsh treatment in withdrawing the innocent privileges she had
formerly granted me； I was expecting her to relieve my watch。 Much
fatigued； I fell asleep； my head against the wall。 I wakened suddenly
at the touch of something cool upon my forehead which gave me a
sensation as if a rose had rested there。 I opened my eyes and saw the
countess； standing a few steps distant； who said； 〃I have just come。〃
I rose to leave the room； but as I bade her good…bye I took her hand；
it was moist and trembling。
〃Are you ill？〃 I said。
〃Why do you ask that question？〃 she replied。
I looked at her blushing and confused。 〃I was dreaming；〃 I replied。
Another time； when Monsieur Origet had announced positively that the
count was convalescent； I was lying with Jacques and Madeleine on the
step of the portico intent on a game of spillikins which we were
playing with bits of straw and hooks made of pins； Monsieur de
Mortsauf was asleep。 The doctor； while waiting for his horse to be
harnessed； was talking with the countess in the salon。 Monsieur Origet
went away without my noticing his departure。 After he left； Henriette
leaned against the window； from which she watched us for some time
without our seeing her。 It was one of those warm evenings when the sky
is copper…colored and the earth sends up among the echoes a myriad
mingling noises。 A last ray of sunlight was leaving the roofs； the
flowers in the garden perfumed the air； the bells of the cattle
returning to their stalls sounded in the distance。 We were all
conforming to the silence of the evening hour and hushing our voices
that we might not wake the count。 Suddenly； I heard the guttural sound
of a sob violently suppressed； I rushed into the salon and found the
countess sitting by the window with her handkerchief to her face。 She
heard my step and made me an imperious gesture； commanding me to leave
her。 I went up to her； my heart stabbed with fear； and tried to take
her handkerchief away by force。 Her face was bathed in tears and she
fled into her room； which she did not leave again until the hour for
evening prayer。 When that was over； I led her to the terrace and asked
the cause of her emotion； she affected a wild gaiety and explained it
by the news Monsieur Origet had given her。
〃Henriette； Henriette； you knew that news when I saw you weeping。
Between you and me a lie is monstrous。 Why did you forbid me to dry
your tears？ were they mine？〃
〃I was thinking；〃 she said； 〃that for me this illness has been a halt
in pain。 Now that I no longer fear for Monsieur de Mortsauf I fear for
myself。〃
She was right。 The count's recovery was soon attested by the return of
his fantastic humor。 He began by saying that neither the countess； nor
I； nor the doctor had known how to take care of him； we were ignorant
of his constitution and also of his disease； we misunderstood his
sufferings and the necessary remedies。 Origet； infatuated with his own
doctrines； had mistaken the case； he ought to have attended only to
the pylorus。 One day he looked at us maliciously； with an air of
having guessed our thoughts； and said to his wife with a smile； 〃Now；
my dear； if I had died you would have regretted me； no doubt； but pray
admit you would have been quite resigned。〃
〃Yes； I should have mourned you in pink and black； court mourning；〃
she answered laughing； to change the tone of his remarks。
But it was chiefly about his food； which the doctor insisted on
regulating； that scenes of violence and wrangling now took place；
unlike any that had hitherto occurred； for the character of the count
was all the more violent for having slumbered。 The countess； fortified
by the doctor's orders and the obedi