I--I--O God, Madge, I am smothering; I am strangling! Holy Virgin! I believe I am about to die." She threw herself upon the bed by Madge's side, clutching her throat and breast, and her grand woman's form tossed and struggled as if she were in convulsions.
"Holy mother!" she cried, "take this frightful agony from my breast.
Snatch this terrible love from my heart.

God! If you have pity, give it now.

Help me! Help me! Ah, how deeply I love.

I never loved him so much as I do at this awful moment.

Save me from doing that which is in my heart.
If I could have him for only one little portion of a minute.