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〃She is not in Tours；〃 continued the count。
〃She is not divorced； and she can go back to England。 Her husband
would be very glad if she would return to him；〃 I said； eagerly。
〃Has she children？〃 asked Madame de Mortsauf； in a changed voice。
〃Two sons；〃 I replied。
〃Where are they？〃
〃In England； with their father。〃
〃Come； Felix；〃 interposed the count； 〃be frank； is she as handsome as
they say？〃
〃How can you ask him such a question？〃 cried the countess。 〃Is not the
woman you love always the handsomest of women？〃
〃Yes； always；〃 I said； firmly； with a glance which she could not
sustain。
〃You are a happy fellow；〃 said the count； 〃yes； a very happy one。 Ha！
in my young days； I should have gone mad over such a conquest〃
〃Hush！〃 said Madame de Mortsauf； reminding the count of Madeleine by a
look。
〃I am not a child；〃 he said。
When we left the table I followed the countess to the terrace。 When we
were alone she exclaimed； 〃How is it possible that some women can
sacrifice their children to a man？ Wealth； position； the world； I can
conceive of； eternity？ yes； possibly； but children！ deprive one's self
of one's children！〃
〃Yes； and such women would give even more if they had it； they
sacrifice everything。〃
The world was suddenly reversed before her； her ideas became confused。
The grandeur of that thought struck her； a suspicion entered her mind
that sacrifice； immolation justified happiness； the echo of her own
inward cry for love came back to her； she stood dumb in presence of
her wasted life。 Yes； for a moment horrible doubts possessed her； then
she rose； grand and saintly； her head erect。
〃Love her well； Felix；〃 she said； with tears in her eyes； 〃she shall
be my happy sister。 I will forgive her the harm she has done me if she
gives you what you could not have here。 You are right； I have never
told you that I loved you； and I never have loved you as the world
loves。 But if she is a mother how can she love you so？〃
〃Dear saint；〃 I answered； 〃I must be less moved than I am now； before
I can explain to you how it is that you soar victoriously above her。
She is a woman of earth； the daughter of decaying races； you are the
child of heaven； an angel worthy of worship； you have my heart； she my
flesh only。 She knows this and it fills her with despair； she would
change parts with you even though the cruellest martyrdom were the
price of the change。 But all is irremediable。 To you the soul； to you
the thoughts； the love that is pure； to you youth and old age； to her
the desires and joys of passing passion； to you remembrance forever；
to her oblivion〃
〃Tell me； tell me that again； oh； my friend！〃 she turned to a bench
and sat down； bursting into tears。 〃If that be so； Felix； virtue；
purity of life； a mother's love； are not mistakes。 Oh； pour that balm
upon my wounds！ Repeat the words which bear me back to heaven； where
once I longed to rise with you。 Bless me by a look； by a sacred word；
I forgive you for the sufferings you have caused me the last two
months。〃
〃Henriette； there are mysteries in the life of men of which you know
nothing。 I met you at an age when the feelings of the heart stifle the
desires implanted in our nature； but many scenes； the memory of which
will kindle my soul to the hour of death； must have told you that this
age was drawing to a close； and it was your constant triumph still to
prolong its mute delights。 A love without possession is maintained by
the exasperation of desire； but there comes a moment when all is
suffering within usfor in this we have no resemblance to you。 We
possess a power we cannot abdicate； or we cease to be men。 Deprived of
the nourishment it needs； the heart feeds upon itself； feeling an
exhaustion which is not death； but which precedes it。 Nature cannot
long be silenced； some trifling accident awakens it to a violence that
seems like madness。 No； I have not loved； but I have thirsted in the
desert。〃
〃The desert！〃 she said bitterly； pointing to the valley。 〃Ah！〃 she
exclaimed； 〃how he reasons！ what subtle distinctions！ Faithful hearts
are not so learned。〃
〃Henriette；〃 I said； 〃do not quarrel with me for a chance expression。
No； my soul has not vacillated； but I have not been master of my
senses。 That woman is not ignorant that you are the only one I ever
loved。 She plays a secondary part in my life； she knows it and is
resigned。 I have the right to leave her as men leave courtesans。〃
〃And then？〃
〃She tells me that she will kill herself；〃 I answered； thinking that
this resolve would startle Henriette。 But when she heard it a
disdainful smile； more expressive than the thoughts it conveyed；
flickered on her lips。 〃My dear conscience；〃 I continued； 〃if you
would take into account my resistance and the seductions that led to
my fall you would understand the fatal〃
〃Yes； fatal！〃 she cried。 〃I believed in you too much。 I believed you
capable of the virtue a priest practises。 All is over；〃 she continued；
after a pause。 〃I owe you much； my friend； you have extinguished in me
the fires of earthly life。 The worst of the way is over； age is coming
on。 I am ailing now； soon I may be ill； I can never be the brilliant
fairy who showers you with favors。 Be faithful to Lady Dudley。
Madeleine； whom I was training to be yours； ah！ who will have her now？
Poor Madeleine； poor Madeleine！〃 she repeated； like the mournful
burden of a song。 〃I would you had heard her say to me when you came：
'Mother； you are not kind to Felix！' Dear creature！〃
She looked at me in the warm rays of the setting sun as they glided
through the foliage。 Seized with compassion for the shipwreck of our
lives she turned back to memories of our pure past； yielding to
meditations which were mutual。 We were silent； recalling past scenes；
our eyes went from the valley to the fields； from the windows of
Clochegourde to those of Frapesle； peopling the dream with my
bouquets； the fragrant language of our desires。 It was her last hour
of pleasure； enjoyed with the purity of her Catholic soul。 This scene；
so grand to each of us； cast its melancholy on both。 She believed my
words； and saw where I placed herin the skies。
〃My friend；〃 she said； 〃I obey God； for his hand is in all this。〃
I did not know until much later the deep meaning of her words。 We
slowly returned up the terraces。 She took my arm and leaned upon it
resignedly； bleeding still； but with a bandage on her wound。
〃Human life is thus；〃 she said。 〃What had Monsieur de Mortsauf done to
deserve his fate？ It proves the existence of a better world。 Alas； for
those who walk in happier ways！〃
She went on； estimating life so truly； considering its diverse aspects
so profoundly that these cold judgments revealed to me the disgust
that had come upon her for all things here below。 When we reached the
portico she dropped my arm and said these last words： 〃If God has