Pere Jerome waited, but no sound came.

He looked through the window.

She was kneeling, with her forehead resting on her arms--motionless.
He repeated the words of absolution.

Still she did not stir.
"My daughter," he said, "go to thy home in peace." But she did not move.
He rose hastily, stepped from the box, raised her in his arms, and called her by name: "Madame Delphine!" Her head fell back in his elbow; for an instant there was life in the eyes--it glimmered--it vanished, and tears gushed from his own and fell upon the gentle face of the dead, as he looked up to heaven and cried: "Lord, lay not this sin to her charge!".