The thoughts of Camille left her; she enjoyed that tranquil repose of invalids who are all at once freed from pain.
She felt relieved in body, her mind free, she sank into a gentle and repairing state of nothingness.

Deprived of these few calm moments, she would have broken down under the tension of her nervous system.

These spells of somnolence gave her strength to suffer again, and become terrified the ensuing night.

As a matter of fact she did not sleep, she barely closed her lids, and was lost in a dream of peace.

When a customer entered, she opened her eyes, served the few sous worth of articles asked for, and fell back into the floating reverie.
In this manner she passed three or four hours of perfect happiness, answering her aunt in monosyllables, and yielding with real enjoyment to these moments of unconsciousness which relieved her of her thoughts, and completely overcame her.