It is only the truth to say that you were rarely suited in your wife ...
Soon afterwards he rose, and, leaving the house, his face was dark with sorrow.
A long silence followed, in which Samuel Chapdelaine's head nodded slowly towards his breast and it seemed as though he were falling asleep.

Maria spoke quickly to him, in fear of his offending:--"Father! Do not sleep!" "No! No!" He sat up straight on his chair and squared his shoulders but since his eyes were closing in spite of him, he stood up hastily, saying:--"Let us recite another chaplet." Kneeling together beside the bed, they told the chaplet bead by bead.

Rising from their knees they heard the rain patter against the window and on the shingles.

It was the first spring rain and proclaimed their freedom: the winter ended, the soil soon to reappear, rivers once more running their joyous course, the earth again transformed like some lovely girl released at last from an evil spell by touch of magic wand.

But they did not allow themselves to be glad in this house of death, nor indeed did they feel the happiness of it in the midst of their hearts' deep affliction.
Opening the window they moved back to it and hearkened to the tapping of the great drops upon the roof.