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shallprayforyou。“
Theeyesofthemother，openedbysofirmahand，tookinwithoneretrospectiveglancethewholecourseofherlife。Illuminedbythisflashoflight，shesawherinvoluntarywrong-doingandburstintotears。Theoldpriestwassodeeplymovedattherepentanceofabeingwhohadsinnedsolelythroughignorance，thathelefttheroomhastilylestsheshouldseehispity。
Josephreturnedtohismother’sroomabouttwohoursafterherconfessorhadlefther。Hehadbeentoafriendtoborrowthenecessarymoneytopayhismostpressingdebts，andhecameinontiptoe，thinkingthathismotherwasasleep。Hesatdowninanarmchairwithoutherseeinghim；buthesprangupwithacoldchillrunningthroughhimasheheardhersay，inavoicebrokenwithsobs，——
“Willheforgiveme？“
“Whatisit，mother？“heexclaimed，shockedatthestrickenfaceofthepoorwoman，andthinkingthewordsmustmeanthedeliriumthatprecedesdeath。
“Ah，Joseph！canyoupardonme，mychild？“shecried。
“Forwhat？“hesaid。
“Ihaveneverlovedyouasyoudeservedtobeloved。“
“Oh，whatanaccusation！“hecried。“Notlovedme？Forsevenyearshavewenotlivedalonetogether？Allthesesevenyearshaveyounottakencareofmeanddoneeverythingforme？DoInotseeyoueveryday，——hearyourvoice？Areyounotthegentleandindulgentcompanionofmymiserablelife？Youdon’tunderstandpainting？——Ah！butthat’sagiftnotalwaysgiven。IwassayingtoGrassouonlyyesterday:’WhatcomfortsmeinthemidstofmytrialsisthatIhavesuchagoodmother。Sheisallthatanartist’swifeshouldbe；sheseestoeverything；shetakescareofmymaterialwantswithoutevertroublingorworryingme。’“
“No，Joseph，no；youhavelovedme，butIhavenotreturnedyouloveforlove。Ah！wouldthatIcouldlivealittlelonger——Givemeyourhand。“
Agathetookherson’shand，kissedit，helditonherheart，andlookedinhisfacealongtime，——lettinghimseetheazureofhereyesresplendentwithatendernessshehadhithertobestowedonPhilippeonly。Thepainter，wellfittedtojudgeofexpression，wassostruckbythechange，andsawsoplainlyhowtheheartofhismotherhadopenedtohim，thathetookherinhisarms，andheldherforsomemomentstohisheart，cryingoutlikeonebesidehimself，——“Mymother！
oh，mymother！“
“Ah！IfeelthatIamforgiven！“shesaid。“Godwillconfirmthechild’spardonofitsmother。“
“Youmustbecalm:don’ttormentyourself；hearme。Ifeelmyselflovedenoughinthisonemomentforallthepast，“hesaid，ashelaidherbackuponthepillows。
Duringthetwoweeks’strugglebetweenlifeanddeath，thereglowedsuchloveineverylookandgestureandimpulseofthesoulofthepiouscreature，thateacheffusionofherfeelingsseemedliketheexpressionofalifetime。Themotherthoughtonlyofherson；sheherselfcountedfornothing；sustainedbylove，shewasunawareofhersufferings。D’Arthez，MichelChrestien，FulgenceRidal，PierreGrassou，andBianchonoftenkeptJosephcompany，andsheheardthemtalkingartinalowvoiceinacornerofherroom。
“Oh，howIwishIknewwhatcoloris！“sheexclaimedoneeveningassheheardthemdiscussingoneofJoseph’
