第61章

“Saynothing，oralltheblamewillfallonyourmaster。“

Thenshewenthome，suddenlycalmed，andwithsomethingoftheserenityofonethathadperformedaduty。

WhenCharles，distractedbythenewsofthedistraint，returnedhome，Emmahadjustgoneout。Hecriedaloud，wept，fainted，butshedidnotreturn。Wherecouldshebe？HesentFelicitetoHomais，toMonsieurTuvache，toLheureux，tothe“Liond’Or，“

everywhere，andintheintervalsofhisagonyhesawhisreputationdestroyed，theirfortunelost，Berthe’sfutureruined。

Bywhat？——Notaword!Hewaitedtillsixintheevening。Atlast，unabletobearitanylonger，andfancyingshehadgonetoRouen，hesetoutalongthehighroad，walkedamile，metnoone，againwaited，andreturnedhome。Shehadcomeback。

“Whatwasthematter？Why？Explaintome。“

Shesatdownatherwriting-tableandwrotealetter，whichshesealedslowly，addingthedateandthehour。Thenshesaidinasolemntone：

“Youaretoreaditto-morrow；tillthen，Iprayyou，donotaskmeasinglequestion。No，notone!“

“But——“

“Oh，leaveme!“

Shelaydownfulllengthonherbed。Abittertastethatshefeltinhermouthawakenedher。ShesawCharles，andagainclosedhereyes。

Shewasstudyingherselfcuriously，toseeifshewerenotsuffering。Butno!nothingasyet。Sheheardthetickingoftheclock，thecracklingofthefire，andCharlesbreathingashestooduprightbyherbed。

“Ahlitisbutalittlething，death!“shethought。“Ishallfallasleepandallwillbeover。“

Shedrankamouthfulofwaterandturnedtothewall。Thefrightfultasteofinkcontinued。

“Iamthirsty；oh!sothirsty，“shesighed。

“Whatisit？“saidCharles，whowashandingheraglass。

“Itisnothing!Openthewindow；Iamchoking。“

Shewasseizedwithasicknesssosuddenthatshehadhardlytimetodrawoutherhandkerchieffromunderthepillow。

“Takeitaway，“shesaidquickly；“throwitaway。“

Hespoketoher；shedidnotanswer。Shelaymotionless，afraidthattheslightestmovementmightmakehervomit。Butshefeltanicycoldcreepingfromherfeettoherheart。

“Ah!itisbeginning，“shemurmured。

“Whatdidyousay？“

Sheturnedherheadfromsidetosidewithagentlemovementfullofagony，whileconstantlyopeninghermouthasifsomethingveryheavywereweighinguponhertongue。Ateighto’clockthevomitingbeganagain。

Charlesnoticedthatatthebottomofthebasintherewasasortofwhitesedime