288
THE LATER LIFE
She held him, clung to his strong shoulders; and he saw her very pale, anxious-eyed:
"Mamma . . ."
"No, leave me now, my boy . . . leave me alone . . . and go to Papa . . ."
He kissed her once more and went away.
She stayed behind, looked at herself in the glass. She saw herself, after all this emotion, saw her pale face, her grey hair:
"I don't know," she murmured. "Oh, to live really, I must not . . . I must not think of myself! . . . For me . . . it is all too late! If it has to be so, if we separate, it must be only . . . only for him, for Henri . . . and for . . . and for Marianne!"
She sank into her chair, covered her face, kept her eyes tightly closed; but their blindness no longer saw the rainbow-colours flashing before them . . .
