It is a strong sense of duty which makes me pain you; my memory will always be dear to you; but do not let a vain, a foolish, a wicked regret counteract the purpose for which God has placed you here.

You are very young, dearest, you have, probably, yet many years to live; and it would multiply my grief at leaving you tenfold, if I thought that your hopes of happiness in this world were to be buried in the grave with me.
No, love, bear with me," he said, for she tried to stop him.

"The pain which I give you now, may prevent much grief to you hereafter.

Remember, Victorine, that should these evil days pass by--should you ever again be restored to peace and tranquil life, my earnest, my last, my solemn prayer to you is, that my memory may not prevent your future marriage." She was still kneeling by his side, and with her face upturned and her hands clasped together, she now implored him to stop.

She uttered no dissent, she made no protestations; but she beseeched him, by their long and tender love, by all the common ties which bound them together, to cease to speak on a subject which was so agonising.
"I have done, love," he said; "and I know that you will not think lightly of a prayer which I have made to you in so serious a manner." De Lescure had expressed the same wish to his wife on former occasions, which, however, had, of course, been less solemn; and then his wife had answered him with a full, but not grieving heart.