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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
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