[Three short works by Gustave Flaubert]@TWC D-Link bookThree short works CHAPTER IV 17/18
From Tuesday until Saturday, the day before the event, she coughed more frequently.
In the evening her face was contracted, her lips stuck to her gums and she began to vomit; and on the following day, she felt so low that she called for a priest. Three neighbours surrounded her when the dominie administered the Extreme Unction.
Afterwards she said that she wished to speak to Fabu. He arrived in his Sunday clothes, very ill at ease among the funereal surroundings. "Forgive me," she said, making an effort to extend her arm, "I believed it was you who killed him!" What did such accusations mean? Suspect a man like him of murder! And Fabu became excited and was about to make trouble. "Don't you see she is not in her right mind ?" From time to time Felicite spoke to shadows.
The women left her and Mother Simon sat down to breakfast. A little later, she took Loulou and holding him up to Felicite: "Say good-bye to him, now!" she commanded. Although he was not a corpse, he was eaten up by worms; one of his wings was broken and the wadding was coming out of his body.
But Felicite was blind now, and she took him and laid him against her cheek.
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