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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 me？〃 He raised her with a strength
unusual to him； kissed her solemnly on the forehead； and thus holding
her continued： 〃Have I no forgiveness to ask of you？ Have I never been
harsh？ Are you not making too much of your girlish scruples？〃
〃Perhaps；〃 she said。 〃But； dear friend； indulge the weakness of a
dying woman； tranquillize my mind。 When you reach this hour you will
remember that I left you with a blessing。 Will you grant me permission
to leave to our friend now here that pledge of my affection？〃 she
continued； showing a letter that was on the mantelshelf。 〃He is now my
adopted son； and that is all。 The heart； dear friend； makes its
bequests； my last wishes impose a sacred duty on that dear Felix。 I
think I do not put too great a burden on him； grant that I do not ask
too much of you in desiring to leave him these last words。 You see； I
am always a woman；〃 she said； bending her head with mournful
sweetness； 〃after obtaining pardon I ask a giftRead this；〃 she
added； giving me the letter； 〃but not until after my death。〃
The count saw her color change： he lifted her and carried her himself
to the bed； where we all surrounded her。
〃Felix；〃 she said； 〃I may have done something wrong to you。 Often I
gave you pain by letting you hope for that I could not give you； but
see； it was that very courage of wife and mother that now enables me
to die forgiven of all。 You will forgive me too； you who have so often
blamed me； and whose injustice was so dear〃
The Abbe Birotteau laid a finger on his lips。 At that sign the dying
woman bowed her head； faintness overcame her； presently she waved her
hands as if summoning the clergy and her children and the servants to
her presence； and then； with an imploring gesture； she showed me the
desolate count and the children beside him。 The sight of that father；
the secret of whose insanity was known to us alone； now to be left
sole guardian of those delicate beings； brought mute entreaties to her
face； which fell upon my heart like sacred fire。 Before receiving
extreme unction she asked pardon of her servants if by a hasty word
she had sometimes hurt them； she asked their prayers and commended
each one； individually； to the count； she nobly confessed that during