gances I hastened her end. But believe me, Blandine, it was not my fault; I never did it on purpose. There were other things that caused it, things that nobody, not even you, could understand or imagine; a certain fatality, something inexplicable, was mixed up with it."
Here his look became still more cloudy, and with the back of his hand he wiped the perspiration off his forehead, no doubt regretting that he could not at the same time wipe from his brain the thought that oppressed him.
"Whilst you, Blandine," he added, "you were always pure balm to her, nothing but smiles and caresses. Ah, leave me, my poor child, the time has come to separate; it will be better for you, if not for me."
He turned aside, quite overcome, ready to weep himself, and was going away, waving her off with a gesture; but she eagerly seized upon the hand that thought to banish her.
"You do not really wish it, Henry," she cried with a voice of entreaty that pierced the young Count to the heart. "Where should I go to? After your sainted grandmother no one but you remains for me to cherish. You are the only motive of my
