the wandering jew, volume 9-第24章

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〃Be　satisfied；　if　I　put　off　from　day　to　day　the　final　moment；〃　answered
the　sempstress；　〃it　was　because　I　wished　to　give　you　time　to　reflect。　　As
for　me〃

She　did　not　finish；　but　she　shook　her　head　with　an　air　of　the　utmost
despondency。

〃Well；　sister；　let　us　kiss　each　other；〃　said　Cephyse；　〃and；　courage！〃

The　hunchback　rose；　and　threw　herself　into　her　sister's　arms。　　They　held
one　another　fast　in　a　long　embrace。　　There　followed　a　few　seconds　of　deep
and　solemn　silence；　only　interrupted　by　the　sobs　of　the　sisters；　for　now
they　had　begun　to　weep。

〃Oh；　heaven！　to　love　each　other　so；　and　to　part　forever！〃　said　Cephyse。
〃It　is　a　cruel　fate。〃

〃To　part？〃　cried　Mother　Bunch；　and　her　pale；　mild　countenance；　bathed　in
tears；　was　suddenly　illumined　with　a　ray　of　divine　hope；　〃to　part；
sister？　oh；　no！　What　makes　me　so　calm　is　the　deep　and　certain
expectation；　which　I　feel　here　at　my　heart；　of　that　better　world　where　a
better　life　awaits　us。　　God；　so　great；　so　merciful；　so　prodigal　of　good；
cannot　destine　His　creatures　to　be　forever　miserable。　　Selfish　men　may
pervert　His　benevolent　designs；　and　reduce　their　brethren　to　a　state　of
suffering　and　despair。　　Let　us　pity　the　wicked　and　leave　them！　Come　up　on
high；　sister；　men　are　nothing　there；　where　God　is　all。　　We　shall　do　well
there。　　Let　us　depart；　for　it　is　late。〃

So　saying；　she　pointed　to　the　ruddy　beams　of　the　setting　sun；　which　began
to　shine　upon　the　window。

Carried　away　by　the　religious　enthusiasm　of　her　sister；　whose
countenance；　transfigured；　as　it　were；　by　the　hope　of　an　approaching
deliverance；　gleamed　brightly　in　the　reflected　sunset；　Cephyse　took　her
hands；　and；　looking　at　her　with　deep　emotion；　exclaimed；　〃Oh；　sister！　how
beautiful　you　look　now！〃

〃Then　my　beauty　comes　rather　late　in　the　day；〃　said　Mother　Bunch；　with　a
sad　smile。

〃No；　sister；　for　you　appear　so　happy；　that　the　last　scruples　I　had　upon
your　account　are　quite　gone。〃

〃Then　let　us　make　haste；〃　said　the　hunchback；　as　she　pointed　to　the
chafing…dish。

〃Be　satisfied；　sisterit　will　not　be　long；〃　said　Cephyse。　　And　she　took
the　chafing…dish　full　of　charcoal；　which　she　had　placed　in　a　corner　of
the　garret；　and　brought　it　out　into　the　middle　of　the　room。

〃Do　you　know　how　to　manage　it？〃　asked　the　sewing…girl　approaching。

〃Oh！　it　is　very　simple；〃　answered　Cephyse；　〃we　have　only　to　close　the
door　and　window；　and　light　the　charcoal。〃

〃Yes；　sister；　but　I　think　I　have　heard　that　every　opening　must　be　well
stopped；　so　as　to　admit　no　current　of　air。〃

〃You　are　right；　and　the　door　shuts　so　badly。〃

〃And　look　at　the　holes　in　the　roof。〃

〃What　is　to　be　done；　sister？〃

〃I　will　tell　you；〃　said　Mother　Bunch。　　〃The　straw　of　our　mattress；　well
twisted；　will　answer　every　purpose。〃

〃Certainly；〃　replied　Cephyse。　　〃We　will　keep　a　little　to　light　our　fire；
and　with　the　rest　we　will　stop　up　all　the　crevices　in　the　roof；　and　make
filling　for　our　doors　and　windows。〃

Then；　smiling　with　that　bitter　irony；　so　frequent；　we　repeat；　in　the　most
gloomy　moments；　Cephyse　added；　〃I　say；　sister；　weather…boards　at　our
doors　and　windows；　to　prevent　the　air　from　getting　inwhat　a　luxury！　we
are　as　delicate　as　rich　people。〃

〃At　such　a　time；　we　may　as　well　try　to　make　ourselves　a　little
comfortable；〃　said　Mother　Bunch；　trying　to　jest　like　the　Bacchanal　Queen。

And　with　incredible　coolness；　the　two　began　to　twist　the　straw　into
lengths　of　braid；　small　enough　to　be　stuffed　into　the　cracks　of　the　door；
and　also　constructed　large　plugs；　destined　to　stop　up　the　crevices　in　the
roof。　　While　this　mournful　occupation　lasted；　there　was　no　departure　from
the　calm　and　sad　resignation　of　the　two　unfortunate　creatures。




CHAPTER　XXXII。

SUICIDE。

Cephyse　and　her　sister　continued　with　calmness　the　preparations　for　their
death。

Alas！　how　many　poor　young　girls；　like　these　sisters；　have　been；　and　still
will　be；　fatally　driven　to　seek　in　suicide　a　refuge　from　despair；　from
infamy；　or　from　a　too　miserable　existence！　　And　upon　society　will　rest
the　terrible　responsibility　of　these　sad　deaths；　so　long　as　thousands　of
human　creatures；　unable　to　live　upon　the　mockery　of　wages　granted　to
their　labor；　have　to　choose　between　these　three　gulfs　of　shame　and　woe；　a
life　of　enervating　toil　and　mortal　privations；　causes　of　premature　death；
prostitution；　which　kills　also；　but　slowlyby　contempt；　brutality；　and
uncleanness；　suicidewhich　kills　at　once。

In　a　few　minutes；　the　two　sisters　had　constructed；　with　the　straw　of
their　couch；　the　calkings　necessary　to　intercept　the　air；　and　to　render
suffocation　more　expeditious　and　certain。

The　hunchback　said　to　her　sister；　〃You　are　the　taller；　Cephyse；　and　must
look　to　the　ceiling；　I　will　take　care　of　the　window　and　door。〃

〃Be　satisfied；　sister；　I　shall　have　finished　before　you；〃　answered
Cephyse。

And　the　two　began　carefully　to　stop　up　every　crevice　through　which　a
current　of　air　could　penetrate　into　the　ruined　garret。　　Thanks　to　her
tall　stature；　Cephyse　was　able　to　reach　the　holes　in　the　roof；　and　to
close　them　up　entirely。　　When　they　had　finished　this　sad　work；　the
sisters　again　approached；　and　looked　at　each　other　in　silence。

The　fatal　moment　drew　near；　their　faces；　though　still　calm；　seemed
slightly　agitated　by　that　strange　excitement　which　always　accompanies　a
double　suicide。

〃Now；〃　said　Mother　Bunch；　〃now　for　the　fire！〃

She　knelt　down　before　the　little　chafing…dish；　filled　with　charcoal。　　But
Cephyse　took　hold　of　her　under　the　arm；　and　obliged　her　to　rise　again；
saying　to　her；　〃Let　me　light　the　firethat　is　my　business。〃

〃But；　Cephyse〃

〃You　know；　poor　sister；　that　the　smell　of　charcoal　gives　you　the
headache！〃

At　the　simplicity　of　this　speech；　for　the　Bacchanal　Queen　had　spoken
seriously；　the　sisters　could　not　forbear　smiling　sadly。

〃Never　mind；〃　resumed　Cephyse；　〃why　suffer　more　and　sooner　than　is
necessary？〃

Then；　pointing　to　the　mattress；　which　still　contained　a　little　straw；
Cephyse　added；　〃Lie　down　there；　good　little　sister；　when　our　fire　is
alight；　I　will　come　and　sit　down　by　you。〃

〃Do　not　be　long；　Cephyse。〃

〃In　five　minutes　it　will　be　done。〃

The　tall　building；　which　faced　the　street；　was　separated　by　a　narrow
court　from　that　which　contained　the　retreat　of　the　two　sisters；　and　was
so　much　higher；　that　when　the　sun　had　once　disappeared　behind　its　lofty
roof；　the　garret　soon　became　dark。　　The　light；　passing　through　the　dirty
panes　of　the　small　window；　fell　faintly　on　the　blue　and　white　patchwork
of　the　old　mattress；　on　which　Mother　Bunch　was　now　stretched；　covered
with　rags。　　Leaning　on　her　left　arm；　with　her　chin　resting　in　the　palm　of
her　hand；　she　looked　after　her　sister　with　an　expression　of　heart…rending
grief。　　Cephyse；　kneeling　over　the　chafing…dish；　with　her　face　close　to
the　black　charcoal；　above　which　already　played　a　little　bluish　flame；
exerted　herself　to　blow　the　newly…kindled　fire；　which　was　reflected　on
the　pale　countenance　of　the　unhappy　girl。

The　silence　was　deep。　　No　sound　was　heard　but　the　panting　breath　of
Cephyse；　and；　at　intervals；　the　slight　crackling　of　the　charcoal；　which
began　to　burn；　and　already　sent　forth　a　faint　sickening　vapor。　　Cephyse；
seeing　the　fire　completely　lighted；　and　feeling　already　a　little　dizzy；
rose　from　the　ground；　and　said　to　her　sister；　as　she　approached　her；　〃It
is　done！〃

〃Sister；〃　answered　Mother　Bunch；　kneeling　on　the　mattress；　whilst　Cephyse
remained　standing；　〃how　shall　we　place　ourselves？　　I　should　like　to　be
near　you　to　the　last。〃

Stop！〃　said　Cephyse；　half　executing　the　measures　of　which　she　spoke；　〃I
will　sit　on　the　mattress　with　my　back　against　the　wall。　　Now；　little
sister；　you　lie　there。　　Lean　your　head　upon　my　knees；　and　give　me　your
hand。　　Are　you　comfortable　so？〃

〃Yesbut　I　cannot　see　you。〃

〃That　is　better。　　It　seems　there　is　a　momentvery　short；　it　is　truein
which　one　suffers　a　good　deal。　　And；〃　added　Cephyse；　in　a　voice　of
emotion；　〃it　will　be　as　well　not　to　see　each　other　suffer。〃

〃You　are　right；　Cephyse。〃

〃Let　me　kiss　that　beautiful　hair　for　the　last　time；〃　said　Cephyse；　as　she
pressed　her　lips　to　the　silky　locks　which　crowned　the　hunchback's　pale
and　melancholy　countenance；　〃and　thenwe　will　remain　very　quiet。〃

〃Sister；　your　hand；〃　said　the　sewing…girl；　〃for　the　last　time；　your　hand
and　then；　as　you　say；　we　will　move　no　more。　　We　shall　not　have　to　wait
long；　I　think；　for　I　begin　to　feel　dizzy。　　And　you；　sister？〃

〃Not　yet；〃　replied　Cephyse；　〃I　only　perceive　the　smell　of　the　charcoal。〃

〃Do　you　know　where　they　will　bury　us？〃　said　Mother　Bunch；　after　a
moment's　silence。

〃No。　Why　do　you　ask？〃

〃Because　I　should　like　it　to　be　in　Pere…la…Chaise。　　I　went　there　once
with　Agricola　and　his　mother。　　What　a　fine　view　there　is！and　then　the
trees；　the　flowers；　the　marbledo　you　know　the　dead　are　better　lodged
than　the　livingand〃

What　is　the　matter；　sister？〃　said　Cephyse　to　her　companion；　who　had
stopped　short；　after　speaking　in　a　slow　voice。

〃I　am　giddymy　temples　throb；〃　was　the　answer。　　〃How　do　you　feel？〃

〃I　only　begin　to　be　a　little　faint；　it　is　strangethe　effect　is　slower
with　me　than　you。〃

〃Oh！　you　see；〃　said　Mother　Bunch；　trying　to　smile；　〃I　was　always　so
forward。　　At　school；　do　you　remember；　they　said　I　was　before　the　others。
And；　now　it　happens　again。〃

〃I　hope　soon　to　overtake　you　this　time；〃　said　Cephyse。

What　astonished　the　sisters　was　quite　natural。　　Though　weakened　by　sorrow
and　misery；　the　Bacchanal　Queen；　with　a　constitution　as　robust　as　the
other　was　frail　and　delicate；　was　necessarily　longer　than　her　sister　in
feeling　the　effects　of　the　deleterious　vapor。　　After　a　moment's　silence；
Cephyse　resumed；　as　she　laid　her　hand　on　the　head　she　still　held　upon　her
knees；　〃You　say　nothing；　sister！　You　suffer；　is　it　not　so？〃

〃No；〃　said　Mother　Bunch；　in　a　weak　voice；　〃my　eyelids　are　heavy　as　lead
I　am　getting　benumbedI　feel　that　I　speak　more　slowlybut　I　have　no
acute　pain。　　And　you；　sister？〃

〃Whilst　you　were　speaking；　I　felt　giddyand　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　doubtbut　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　armsI　am　afraid
everything　looks　darkeverything　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