What sacredness in that farewell! What grandeur in the immolation of a selfish happiness which would have been her torture! The countess had longed for emotions, and now she had them,--terrible, cruel, and yet most precious.

She lived a deeper life in pain than in pleasure.

With what delight she said to herself: "I have saved him once, and I will save him again." She heard him cry out when he felt her lips upon his forehead, "Many a poor wretch does not know what love is!" "Are you ill ?" said her husband, coming into her room to take her to breakfast.
"I am dreadfully worried about a matter that is happening at my sister's," she replied, without actually telling a lie.
"Your sister has fallen into bad hands," replied Felix.

"It is a shame for any family to have a du Tillet in it,--a man without honor of any kind.

If disaster happened to her she would get no pity from him." "What woman wants pity ?" said the countess, with a convulsive motion.