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for me！〃
Mother Bunch did not answer。 The head； which Cephyse let slip from her
hands； fell back gently on the mattress。
〃My God。 It is not my fault； if we do not die together！〃 cried Cephyse
in despair； as she knelt beside the couch； on which the other lay
motionless。
〃Dead！〃 she murmured in terror。 〃Dead before me！Perhaps it is that I
am the strongest。 Ah！ it beginsfortunatelylike her； I see everything
dark…blueI sufferwhat happiness！I can scarcely breathe。 Sister！〃
she added； as she threw her arms round her loved one's neck； 〃I am
comingI am here！〃
At the same instant the sound of footsteps and voices was heard from the
staircase。 Cephyse had still presence of mind enough to distinguish the
sound。 Stretched beside the body of her sister； she raised her head
hastily。
The noise approached； and a voice was heard exclaiming； not far from the
doer： 〃Good heavens！ what a smell of fire！〃
And； at the same instant； the door was violently shaken； and another
voice exclaimed： 〃Open！ open！〃
〃They will come inthey will save meand my sister is deadOh； no！ I
will not have the baseness to survive her！〃
Such was the last thought of Cephyse。 Using what little strength she had
left； she ran to the window and opened itand； at the same instant that
the half…broken door yielded to a vigorous effort from without； the
unfortunate creature precipitated herself from that third story into the
court below。 Just then； Adrienne and Agricola appeared on the threshold
of the chamber。 In spite of the stifling odor of the charcoal； Mdlle。 de
Cardoville rushed into the garret； and； seeing the stove； she exclaimed；
〃The unhappy girl has killed herself！〃
〃No； she has thrown herself from the window；〃 cried Agricola： for； at the
moment of breaking open the door； he had seen a human form disappear in
that direction； and he now ran to the window。
〃Oh！ this is frightful！〃 he exclaimed； with a cry of horror； as he put
his hand before his eyes； and returned pale and terrified to Mdlle。 de
Cardoville。
But； misunderstanding the cause of his terror； Adrienne； who had just
perceived Mother Bunch through the darkness； hastened to answer： 〃No！ she
is here。〃
And she pointed to the pale form stretched on the mattress； beside which
Adrienne now threw herself on her knees。 Grasping the hands of the poor
sempstress； she found them as cold as ice。 Laying her hand on her heart；
she could not feel it beat。 Yet； in a few seconds； as the fresh air
rushed into the room from the door and window； Adrienne thought she
remarked an almost imperceptible pulsation； and she exclaimed： 〃Her heart
beats！ Run quickly for help！ Luckily； I have my smelling bottle。〃
〃Yes； yes！ help for herand for the other too； if it is yet time！〃 cried
the smith in despair； as he rushed down the stairs； leaving Mdlle。 de
Cardoville still kneeling by the side of the mattress。
End