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her father； saying that the countess desired to be alone with me； and
also that the presence of too many persons would fatigue her。 The
solemnity of this moment gave me that sense of inward heat and outward
cold which overcomes us often in the great events of life。 The Abbe
Birotteau； one of those men whom God marks for his own by investing
them with sweetness and simplicity； together with patience and
compassion； took me aside。
〃Monsieur；〃 he said； 〃I wish you to know that I have done all in my
power to prevent this meeting。 The salvation of this saint required
it。 I have considered her only； and not you。 Now that you are about to
see her to whom access ought to have been denied you by the angels；
let me say that I shall be present to protect you against yourself and
perhaps against her。 Respect her weakness。 I do not ask this of you as
a priest； but as a humble friend whom you did not know you had； and
who would fain save you from remorse。 Our dear patient is dying of
hunger and thirst。 Since morning she is a victim to the feverish
irritation which precedes that horrible death； and I cannot conceal
from you how deeply she regrets life。 The cries of her rebellious
flesh are stifled in my heartwhere they wake echoes of a wound still
tender。 But Monsieur de Dominis and I accept this duty that we may
spare the sight of this moral anguish to her family； as it is； they no
longer recognize their star by night and by day in her； they all；
husband； children； servants； all are asking； 'Where is she？'she is
so changed！ When she sees you； her regrets will revive。 Lay aside your
thoughts as a man of the world； forget its vanities； be to her the
auxiliary of heaven； not of earth。 Pray God that this dear saint die
not in a moment of doubt； giving voice to her despair。〃
I did not answer。 My silence alarmed the poor confessor。 I saw； I
heard； I walked； and yet I was no longer on the earth。 The thought；
〃In what state shall I find her？ Why do they use these precautions？〃
gave rise to apprehensions which were the more cruel because so
indefinite； all forms of suffering crowded my mind。
We reached the door of the chamber and the abbe opened it。 I then saw
Henriette； dressed in white； sitting on her little sofa which was
placed before the fireplace； on which were two vases filled with
flowers； flowers were also on a table near the window。 The expression
of the abbe's face； which was that of amazement at the change in the
room； now restored to its former state； showing me that the dying
woman had sent away the repulsive preparations which surround a sick…
bed。 She had spent the last waning strength of fever in decorating her
room to receive him whom in that final hour she loved above all things
else。 Surrounded by clouds of lace； her shrunken face； which had the
greenish pallor of a magnolia flower as it opens； resembled the first
outline of a cherished head drawn in chalks upon the yellow canvas of
a portrait。 To feel how deeply the vulture's talons now buried
themselves in my heart； imagine the eyes of that outlined face
finished and full of life；hollow eyes which shone with a brilliancy
unusual in a dying person。 The calm majesty given to her in the past
by her constant victory over sorrow was there no longer。 Her forehead；
the only part of her face which still kept its beautiful proportions；
wore an expression of aggressive will and covert threats。 In spite of
the waxy texture of her elongated face； inward fires were issuing from
it like the fluid mist which seems to flame above the fields of a hot
day。 Her hollow temples； her sunken cheeks showed the interior
formation of the face； and the smile upon her whitened lips vaguely
resembled the grin of death。 Her robe； which was folded across her
breast； showed the emaciation of her beautiful figure。 The expression
of her head said plainly that she knew she was changed； and that the
thought filled her with bitterness。 She was no longer the arch
Henriette； nor the sublime and saintly Madame de Mortsauf； but the
nameless something of Bossuet struggling against annihilation； driven
to the selfish battle of life against death by hunger and balked
desire。 I took her hand； which was dry and burning； to kiss it； as I
seated myself beside her。 She guessed my sorrowful surprise from the
very effort that I made to hide it。 Her discolored lips drew up from
her famished teeth trying to form a smile；the forced smile with
which we strive to hide either the irony of vengeance； the expectation
of pleasure； the intoxication of our souls； or the fury of
disappointment。
〃Ah； my poor Felix； this is death；〃 she said； 〃and you do not like
death； odious death； of which every human creature； even the boldest
lover； feels a horror。 This is the end of love； I knew it would be so。
Lady Dudley will never see you thus surprised at the change in her。
Ah！ why have I so longed for you； Felix？ You have come at last； and I
reward your devotion by the same horrible sight that made the Comte de
Rance a Trappist。 I； who hoped to remain ever beautiful and noble in
your memory； to live there eternally a lily； I it is who destroy your
illusions！ True love cannot calculate。 But stay； do not go； stay。
Monsieur Origet said I was much better this morning； I shall recover。
Your looks will bring me back to life。 When I regain a little
strength； when I can take some nourishment； I shall be beautiful
again。 I am scarcely thirty…five； there are many years of happiness
before me；happiness renews our youth； yes； I must know happiness！ I
have made delightful plans；we will leave Clochegourde and go to
Italy。〃
Tears filled my eyes and I turned to the window as if to look at the
flowers。 The abbe followed me hastily； and bending over the bouquet
whispered； 〃No tears！〃
〃Henriette； do you no longer care for our dear valley；〃 I said； as if
to explain my sudden movement。
〃Oh； yes！〃 she said； turning her forehead to my lips with a fond
motion。 〃But without you it is fatal to me；without THEE；〃 she added；
putting her burning lips to my ear and whispering the words like a
sigh。
I was horror…struck at the wild caress； and my will was not strong
enough to repress the nervous agitation I felt throughout this scene。
I listened without reply； or rather I replied by a fixed smile and
signs of comprehension； wishing not to thwart her； but to treat her as
a mother does a child。 Struck at first with the change in her person；
I now perceived that the woman； once so dignified in her bearing；
showed in her attitude； her voice； her manners； in her looks and her
ideas； the naive ignorance of a child； its artless graces； its eager
movements； its careless indifference to everything that is not its own
desire；in short all the weaknesses which commend a child to our
protection。 Is it so with all dying persons？ Do they strip off social
disguises till they are like children who have never put them on？ Or
was it that the countess feeling herself on the borders of eternity；
rejected every human feeling except love？
〃You will bring me health as you used to do； Felix；〃 she said； 〃and
our valley will still be my blessing。 How can I help eating what you
will giv