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happiness to tell you； Jules； that I now know I was indeed a young
girl； and that I came to you virgin in heart。
〃When I left that absolute solitude； when； for the first time； I
braided my hair and crowned it with almond blossoms； when I added；
with delight； a few satin knots to my white dress； thinking of the
world I was to see； and which I was curious to seeJules； that
innocent and modest coquetry was done for you！ Yes； as I entered
the world； I saw /you/ first of all。 Your face； I remarked it； it
stood out from the rest； your person pleased me； your voice； your
manners all inspired me with pleasant presentiments。 When you came
up； when you spoke to me； the color on your forehead； the tremble
in your voice；that moment gave me memories with which I throb as
I now write to you； as I now； for the last time； think of them。
Our love was at first the keenest of sympathies； but it was soon
discovered by each of us and then； as speedily； shared； just as；
in after times； we have both equally felt and shared innumerable
happinesses。 From that moment my mother was only second in my
heart。 Next； I was yours； all yours。 There is my life； and all my
life； dear husband。
〃And here is what remains for me to tell you。 One evening； a few
days before my mother's death； she revealed to me the secret of
her life；not without burning tears。 I have loved you better
since the day I learned from the priest as he absolved my mother
that there are passions condemned by the world and by the Church。
But surely God will not be severe when they are the sins of souls
as tender as that of my mother； only； that dear woman could never
bring herself to repent。 She loved much； Jules； she was all love。
So I have prayed daily for her； but never judged her。
〃That night I learned the cause of her deep maternal tenderness；
then I also learned that there was in Paris a man whose life and
whose love centred on me； that your fortune was his doing； and
that he loved you。 I learned also that he was exiled from society
and bore a tarnished name； but that he was more unhappy for me；
for us； than for himself。 My mother was all his comfort； she was
dying； and I promised to take her place。 With all the ardor of a
soul whose feelings had never been perverted； I saw only the
happiness of softening the bitterness of my mother's last moments；
and I pledged myself to continue her work of secret charity；the
charity of the heart。 The first time that I saw my father was
beside the bed where my mother had just expired。 When he raised
his tearful eyes； it was to see in me a revival of his dead hopes。
I had sworn； not to tell a lie； but to keep silence； and that
silence what woman could have broken it？
〃There is my fault； Jules；a fault which I expiate by death。 I
doubted you。 But fear is so natural to a woman； above all； a woman
who knows what it is that she may lose。 I trembled for our love。
My father's secret seemed to me the death of my happiness； and the
more I loved； the more I feared。 I dared not avow this feeling to
my father； it would have wounded him； and in his situation a wound
was agony。 But； without a word from me； he shared my fears。 That
fatherly heart trembled for my happiness as much as I trembled for
myself； but it dared not speak； obeying the same delicacy that
kept me mute。 Yes； Jules； I believed that you could not love the
daughter of Gratien Bourignard as you loved your Clemence。 Without
that terror could I have kept back anything from you；you who
live in every fold of my heart？
〃The day when that odious； unfortunate young officer spoke to you；
I was forced to lie。 That day； for the second time in my life； I
knew what pain was； that pain has steadily increased until this
moment； when I speak with you for the last time。 What matters now
my father's position？ You know all。 I could； by the help of my
love； have conquered my illness and borne its sufferings； but I
cannot stifle the voice of doubt。 Is it not probable that my
origin would affect the purity of your love and weaken it；
diminish it？ That fear nothing has been able to quench in me。
There； Jules； is the cause of my death。 I cannot live fearing a
word； a look；a word you may never say； a look you may never
give； but； I cannot help it； I fear them。 I die beloved； there is
my consolation。
〃I have known； for the last three years； that my father and his
friends have well…nigh moved the world to deceive the world。 That
I might have a station in life； they have bought a dead man； a
reputation； a fortune； so that a living man might live again；
restored； and all this for you； for us。 We were never to have
known of it。 Well； my death will save my father from that
falsehood； for he will not survive me。
〃Farewell； Jules； my heart is all here。 To show you my love in its
agony of fear； is not that bequeathing my whole soul to you？ I
could never have the strength to speak to you； I have only enough
to write。 I have just confessed to God the sins of my life。 I have
promised to fill my mind with the King of Heaven only； but I must
confess to him who is； for me； the whole of earth。 Alas！ shall I
not be pardoned for this last sigh between the life that was and
the life that shall be？ Farewell； my Jules； my loved one！ I go to
God； with whom is Love without a cloud； to whom you will follow
me。 There； before his throne； united forever； we may love each
other throughout the ages。 This hope alone can comfort me。 If I am
worthy of being there at once； I will follow you through life。 My
soul shall bear your company； it will wrap you about； for /you/
must stay here still；ah！ here below。 Lead a holy life that you
may the more surely come to me。 You can do such good upon this
earth！ Is it not an angel's mission for the suffering soul to shed
happiness about him；to give to others that which he has not？ I
bequeath you to the Unhappy。 Their smiles； their tears； are the
only ones of which I cannot be jealous。 We shall find a charm in
sweet beneficence。 Can we not live together still if you would
join my nameyour Clemencein these good works？
〃After loving as we have loved； there is naught but God； Jules。
God does not lie； God never betrays。 Adore him only； I charge you！
Lead those who suffer up to him； comfort the sorrowing members of
his Church。 Farewell； dear soul that I have filled！ I know you；
you will never love again。 I may die happy in the thought that
makes all women happy。 Yes； my grave will be your heart。 After
this childhood I have just related； has not my life flowed on
within that heart？ Dead； you will never drive me forth。 I am proud
of that rare life！ You will know me only in the flower of my
youth； I leave you regrets without disillusions。 Jules； it is a
happy death。
〃You； who have so fully understood me； may I ask one thing more of
you；superfluous request； perhaps； the fulfilment of a woman's
fancy； the prayer of a jealousy we all must feel；I pray you to
burn all that especially belonged to /us/； destroy our chamber；
annihilate all that is a memory of our happiness。
〃Once more； farewell；the last farewell！ It is all love； and so
will be my parting thought； my parting breath。〃
When Jules had read that letter there came into his heart one of those
wild frenzies of which it is impossible to describe the awful anguish。
All sorrows are individual； their effects are not subjected to any
fixed rule。 Certain men will stop their ears to hear nothing； some
women close their eyes hoping never to see again； great and splendid
souls are met with who fling themselves into sorrow as into an abyss。
In the matter of despair； all is true。
CHAPTER V
CONCLUSION
Jules escaped from his brother's house and returned home； wishing to
pass the night beside his wife； and see till the last moment that
celestial creature。 As he walked along with an indifference to life
known only to those who have reached the last degree of wretchedness；
he thought of how； in India； the law ordained that widows should die；
he longed to die。 He was not yet crushed； the fever of his grief was
still upon him。 He reached his home and went up into the sacred
chamber； he saw his Clemence on the bed of death； beautiful； like a
saint； her hair smoothly laid upon her forehead； her hands joined； her
body wrapped already in its shroud。 Tapers were lighted； a priest was
praying； Josephine kneeling in a corner； wept； and； near the bed； were
two men。 One was Ferragus。 He stood erect； motionless； gazing at his
daughter with dry eyes； his head you might have taken for bronze： he
did not see Jules。
The other man was Jacquet；Jacquet； to whom Madame Jules had been
ever kind。 Jacquet felt for her one of those respectful friendships
which rejoice the untroubled heart； a gentle passion； love without its
desires and its storms。 He had come to pay his debt of tears； to bid a
long adieu to the wife of his friend； to kiss； for the first time； the
icy brow of the woman he had tacitly made his sister。
All was