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〃Do not be long； Cephyse。〃
〃In five minutes it will be done。〃
The tall building； which faced the street； was separated by a narrow
court from that which contained the retreat of the two sisters； and was
so much higher； that when the sun had once disappeared behind its lofty
roof； the garret soon became dark。 The light； passing through the dirty
panes of the small window； fell faintly on the blue and white patchwork
of the old mattress； on which Mother Bunch was now stretched； covered
with rags。 Leaning on her left arm； with her chin resting in the palm of
her hand； she looked after her sister with an expression of heart…rending
grief。 Cephyse； kneeling over the chafing…dish； with her face close to
the black charcoal； above which already played a little bluish flame；
exerted herself to blow the newly…kindled fire； which was reflected on
the pale countenance of the unhappy girl。
The silence was deep。 No sound was heard but the panting breath of
Cephyse； and； at intervals； the slight crackling of the charcoal； which
began to burn； and already sent forth a faint sickening vapor。 Cephyse；
seeing the fire completely lighted； and feeling already a little dizzy；
rose from the ground； and said to her sister； as she approached her； 〃It
is done！〃
〃Sister；〃 answered Mother Bunch； kneeling on the mattress； whilst Cephyse
remained standing； 〃how shall we place ourselves？ I should like to be
near you to the last。〃
Stop！〃 said Cephyse； half executing the measures of which she spoke； 〃I
will sit on the mattress with my back against the wall。 Now； little
sister； you lie there。 Lean your head upon my knees； and give me your
hand。 Are you comfortable so？〃
〃Yesbut I cannot see you。〃
〃That is better。 It seems there is a momentvery short； it is truein
which one suffers a good deal。 And；〃 added Cephyse； in a voice of
emotion； 〃it will be as well not to see each other suffer。〃
〃You are right； Cephyse。〃
〃Let me kiss that beautiful hair for the last time；〃 said Cephyse； as she
pressed her lips to the silky locks which crowned the hunchback's pale
and melancholy countenance； 〃and thenwe will remain very quiet。〃
〃Sister； your hand；〃 said the sewing…girl； 〃for the last time； your hand
and then； as you say； we will move no more。 We shall not have to wait
long； I think； for I begin to feel dizzy。 And you； sister？〃
〃Not yet；〃 replied Cephyse； 〃I only perceive the smell of the charcoal。〃
〃Do you know where they will bury us？〃 said Mother Bunch； after a
moment's silence。
〃No。 Why do you ask？〃
〃Because I should like it to be in Pere…la…Chaise。 I went there once
with Agricola and his mother。 What a fine view there is！and then the
trees； the flowers； the marbledo you know the dead are better lodged
than the livingand〃
What is the matter； sister？〃 said Cephyse to her companion； who had
stopped short； after speaking in a slow voice。
〃I am giddymy temples throb；〃 was the answer。 〃How do you feel？〃
〃I only begin to be a little faint； it is strangethe effect is slower
with me than you。〃
〃Oh！ you see；〃 said Mother Bunch； trying to smile； 〃I was always so
forward。 At school； do you remember； they said I was before the others。
And； now it happens again。〃
〃I hope soon to overtake you this time；〃 said Cephyse。
What astonished the sisters was quite natural。 Though weakened by sorrow
and misery； the Bacchanal Queen； with a constitution as robust as the
other was frail and delicate； was necessarily longer than her sister in
feeling the effects of the deleterious vapor。 After a moment's silence；
Cephyse resumed； as she laid her hand on the head she still held upon her
knees； 〃You say nothing； sister！ You suffer； is it not so？〃
〃No；〃 said Mother Bunch； in a weak voice； 〃my eyelids are heavy as lead
I am getting benumbedI feel that I speak more slowlybut I have no
acute pain。 And you； sister？〃
〃Whilst you were speaking； I felt giddyand now my temples throb
violently。〃
〃As it was with me just now。 One would think it was more painful and
difficult to die。〃
Then after a moment's silence； the hunchback said suddenly to her sister；
〃Do you think that Agricola will much regret me； and think of me for some
time？〃
〃How can you ask？〃 said Cephyse； in a tone of reproach。
〃You are right；〃 answered Mother Bunch； mildly； 〃there is a bad feeling
in such a doubtbut if you knew〃
〃What； sister？〃
The other hesitated for an instant； and then said； dejectedly； 〃Nothing。〃
Afterwards； she added； 〃Fortunately； I die convinced that he will never
miss me。 He married a charming girl； who loves him； I am sure； and will
make him perfectly happy。〃
As she pronounced these last words； the speaker's voice grew fainter and
fainter。 Suddenly she started and said to Cephyse； in a trembling；
almost frightened tone； 〃Sister！ Hold me in your armsI am afraid
everything looks darkeverything is turning round。〃 And the unfortunate
girl； raising herself a little； hid her face in her sister's bosom； and
threw his weak arms around her。
〃Courage； sister！〃 said Cephyse； in a voice which was also growing faint；
as she pressed her closer to her bosom； 〃it will soon be over。〃
And Cephyse added； with a kind of envy； 〃Oh！ why does my sister's
strength fail so much sooner than mine？ I have still my perfect senses
and I suffer less than she does。 Oh！ if I thought she would die first！
But； noI will go and hold my face over the chafing…dish rather。〃
At the movement Cephyse made to rise； a feeble pressure from her sister
held her back。 〃You suffer； my poor child！〃 said Cephyse； trembling。
〃Oh yes！ a good deal nowdo not leave me！〃
〃And I scarcely at all；〃 said Cephyse； gazing wildly at the chafing…dish。
〃Ah！〃 added she； with a kind of fatal！ joy； 〃now I begin to feel itI
chokemy head is ready to split。〃
And indeed the destructive gas now filled the little chamber； from which
it had； by degrees； driven all the air fit for respiration。 The day was
closing in； and the gloomy garret was only lighted by the reflection of
the burning charcoal； which threw a red glare on the sisters； locked in
each other's arms。 Suddenly Mother Bunch made some slight convulsive
movements； and pronounced these words in a failing voice： 〃Agricola
Mademoiselle de CardovilleOh！ farewell！AgricolaI〃
Then she murmured some unintelligible words； the convulsive moments
ceased； and her arms； which had been clasped round Cephyse； fell inert
upon the mattress。
〃Sister！〃 cried Cephyse； in alarm； as she raised Mother Bunch's head； to
look at her face。 〃Not already； sister！And I？and I？〃
The sewing…girl's mild countenance was not paler than usual。 Only her
eyes； half…closed； seemed no longer to see anything； and a half…smile of
mingled grief and goodness lingered an instant about her violet lips；
from which stole the almost imperceptible breathand then the mouth
became motionless； and the face assumed a great serenity of expression。
〃But you must not die before me！〃 cried Cephyse； in a heart…rending tone；
as she covered with kisses the cold cheek。 〃Wait for me； sister！ wait
for me！〃
Mother Bunch did not answer。 The head； which Cephyse let slip from her