cal
tears that are soon wiped by the hand of a notary. Can there be at
the bottom of this great evil some law which we do not know? Must the
centenary pitilessly strew the earth with corpses and dry them to dust
about him that he may raise himself, as the millionaire battens on a
myriad of little industries? Is there some powerful and venomous life
which feasts on these gentle, tender creatures? My God! do I belong to
the race of tigers?

Remorse gripped my heart in its scorching fingers, and my cheeks were
furrowed with tears as I entered the avenue of Clochegourde on a damp
October morning, which loosened the dead leaves of the poplars planted
by Henriette in the path where once she stood and waved her handkerchief
as if to recall me. Was she living? Why did I feel her two white hands
upon my head laid prostrate in the dust? In that moment I paid for all
the pleasures that Arabella had given me, and I knew that I paid dearly.
I swore not to see her again, and a hatred of England took possession of
me. Though Lady Dudley was only a variety of her species, I included all
Englishwomen in my judgment.

I received a fresh shock as I neared Clochegourde. Jacques, Madeleine,
and the Abbe Dominis were kneeling at the foot of a wooden cross placed
on a piece of ground that was taken into the enclosure when the iron
gate was put up, which the count and countess had never been willing
to remove. I sprang from the carriage and went towards them, my heart
aching at the sight of these children and that grave old man imploring
the mercy of God. The old huntsman was there too, with bared head,
standing a little apart.

I stooped to kiss Jacques and Madeleine, who gave me a cold look and
continued praying. The abbe rose from his knees; I took him by the arm
to support myself, saying, "Is she still alive?" He bowed his head
sadly and gently. "Tell me, I implore you for Christ's sake, why are you
praying at the foot of this cross? Why are you here, and not with her?
Why are the children kneeling here this chilly morning? Tell me all,
that I may do no harm through ignorance."

"For the last few days Madame le comtesse has been unwilling to see her
children except at stated times.--Monsieur," he continued after a
pause, "perhaps you had better wait a few hours before seeing Madame
de Mortsauf; she is greatly changed. It is necessary to prepare her for
this interview, or it might cause an increase in her sufferings--death
would be a b