Conscience -- Volume 4

on and agitation, for if it did not go beyond wha

and if she had not taken this step, it was because her love restrained her. If her love had been less st

uggle would be continued in this way, and that a more violent blow, a st

relessness on his part, and unluck

she described to him; but if he could guard his words and looks during the day, neither saying nor letting anything a

a terribly heavy weight from his heart. But he had groaned and moaned, he had pr

nambulistic state. Was this tendency congenital with him or acquired? He did not know. Before the agitated nights after Madame Dammauville's death and Florentin's condemnation, the idea had never occurred to him that he might

subject who talks in his sleep one may readily hypnotize him. Without doubt he need not fear this from Phillis; but it was possible that some night when incoherent words escaped him she would not be

ove for her brother or for her husband carry her

trary, he had not committed a mad imprudence in introducing a woman into a life so to

eld himself rigorously on the defensive. Loving him as she did, she would resist the curiosity that drew her; if uneasiness drove her, her love would restrain her, as she her

er that he was afraid of her, and consequently it would give her a new mystery to study. He reflected, and starting with the idea t

talked, without doubt Phillis still feared that he would hypnotize her; he would thr

hat he wished to put her to sleep in order that he might learn wh

at you have desired, I have wished as you and

is absurd; I will

ut me to sleep a

sil

not pos

ead: "Is it possible to make a sleeping person, without awaking him, pass from the n

ding her

lly I need only the opportunity of finding

ould be

re merel

he not gone too far? And by this threat would he not drive her to some desperate act? If she should escape, if she deserted him-what would become of him without her? Was she not his

d begged him to examine her. This examination proved that Madame Cormier was in her usual

ll sleep near mamma. I am afraid of not h

to thank him for it she stayed with him in his office, affectio

t hear him, since there was no communicating door between his room and that

we his sufferings to himself, and that if he ever succumbed to the whirlwind that swept him along, it would be by his own deed, by his own hand? At last he had assured the tranquillity of his nights, and as a further precaution, although he did not fear that Phillis would enter his room whil

had suffered from an exasperating nervous insomnia. As the night was warm he thought a little fresh air wou

t, because it was the only place where she could put the bed. A little after midnight an unusual noise awoke her; she sat up to listen and to recover herself. It seemed as if this

but louder and sadder than those she had so often heard during the night. She tried the door, but it was evidently locked on the inside. What was the matter with him? She must know, must go to him, and give him relief. She thought of knocking, of sha

sleeping, his head turned toward her; she stopped and as

several words more distinctly than those that ha

what did he wish her to pardon him? Doubtl

ng his face in the full white light of the morning, she was frightened; it expressed the most violent sorrow, the features convulsed with anguis

o the window in the vestibule to keep herself from falling, repeating those t

holding on to the wall she entered the parlor and

rother-

the frightful truth that

warned her that it was getting late, and she mig

; "I will return at half-p

l not see you before

l him that I

st nine. Madame Cormier

u have come

hter's face she saw that

the matter?" she

serious, but unfortuna

e here, neve

husb

o me of him. This the o

I said would happen. You cannot bear the conte

ers to each other, and this

my age, to d

o us, what we brought here, only that. We will tell the concierge that we are going to the coun

the m

t is enough for the present. Before they are gone I shall have p

id in a hard bu

nterrupted them. It

ake what does not belon

eir wagon I will wr

was ready. Madame Cormier entere

nished," P

er in an envelope, she

el's

us go,"

sighed, while walk

ar mamma, you k