"No," said Mother Bunch, in a weak voice; "my eyelids are heavy as lead--
I am getting benumbed--I feel that I speak more slowly--but I have no acute pain.And you, sister?"
"Whilst you were speaking, I felt giddy--and now my temples throb violently."
"As it was with me just now.One would think it was more painful and difficult to die."
Then after a moment's silence, the hunchback said suddenly to her sister, "Do you think that Agricola will much regret me, and think of me for some time?"
"How can you ask?" said Cephyse, in a tone of reproach.
"You are right," answered Mother Bunch, mildly; "there is a bad feeling in such a doubt--but if you knew--"
"What, sister?"
The other hesitated for an instant, and then said, dejectedly, "Nothing."
Afterwards, she added, "Fortunately, I die convinced that he will never miss me.He married a charming girl, who loves him, I am sure, and will make him perfectly happy."
As she pronounced these last words, the speaker's voice grew fainter and fainter.Suddenly she started and said to Cephyse, in a trembling, almost frightened tone, "Sister! Hold me in your arms--I am afraid--
everything looks dark--everything is turning round." And the unfortunate girl, raising herself a little, hid her face in her sister's bosom, and threw his weak arms around her.
"Courage, sister!" said Cephyse, in a voice which was also growing faint, as she pressed her closer to her bosom; "it will soon be over."
And Cephyse added, with a kind of envy, "Oh! why does my sister's strength fail so much sooner than mine? I have still my perfect senses and I suffer less than she does.Oh! if I thought she would die first!--
But, no--I will go and hold my face over the chafing-dish rather."
At the movement Cephyse made to rise, a feeble pressure from her sister held her back."You suffer, my poor child!" said Cephyse, trembling.
"Oh yes! a good deal now--do not leave me!"
"And I scarcely at all," said Cephyse, gazing wildly at the chafing-dish.
"Ah!" added she, with a kind of fatal! joy; "now I begin to feel it--I choke--my head is ready to split."
And indeed the destructive gas now filled the little chamber, from which it had, by degrees, driven all the air fit for respiration.The day was closing in, and the gloomy garret was only lighted by the reflection of the burning charcoal, which threw a red glare on the sisters, locked in each other's arms.Suddenly Mother Bunch made some slight convulsive movements, and pronounced these words in a failing voice: "Agricola--
Mademoiselle de Cardoville--Oh! farewell!--Agricola--I--"
Then she murmured some unintelligible words; the convulsive moments ceased, and her arms, which had been clasped round Cephyse, fell inert upon the mattress.
"Sister!" cried Cephyse, in alarm, as she raised Mother Bunch's head, to look at her face."Not already, sister!--And I?--and I?"