"
Phlipote did not laugh. "You are deceived, mother!" she said in a
faint voice. "Pardi!" cries the father. "'Tis what I always say.
Your stranger was some young fellow from a shop."
Two months later the young people receive [148] the nuptial
benediction, and continue the musical business when the elders retire
to the country. At first a passionate lover, Claude was afterwards a
good and devoted husband. Phlipote never again opened her lips
regarding the vague love which for a moment had flowered in her
heart: only sometimes, a cloud of reverie veiled her eyes, which
seemed to seek sadly, beyond the circle of her slow, calm life, a
brilliant but chimeric image visible for her alone.
And once again she saw him. It was in the terrible year 1794. She
knew the hour at which the tumbril with those condemned to die passed
the windows; and at the first signal would close them and draw the
curtain. But on this day some invincible fascination nailed her to
her place. There were ten faces; but she had eyes for one alone.
She had not forgotten, could not mistake, him--that pale head, so
proud and fine, but now thin with suffering; the beautiful mobile
eyes, now encircled with the signs of sorrow and watching.
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