Sheheldhimcloserroundtheneck,androckedhimonherbreastlikeachild.
`If\'whenItellyou,dearestdear,thatyouragonyisover,andthatIhavecomeheretotakeyoufromit,andthatwegotoEnglandtobeatpeaceandatrest,Icauseyoutothinkofyourusefullifelaidwaste,andofournativeFrancesowickedtoyou,weepforit,weepforit!Andif\'whenIshalltellyouofmyname,andofmyfatherwhoisliving,andofmymotherwhoisdead,youlearnthatIhavetokneeltomyhonouredfather,andimplorehispardonforhavingneverforhissakestrivenalldayandlainawakeandweptallnight,becausetheloveofmypoormotherhidhistorturefromme,weepforit,weepforit!Weepforher,then,andforme!Goodgentlemen,thankGod!Ifeelhissacredtearsuponmyface,andhissobsstrikeagainstmyheart.O,seeThankGodforus,thankGod!\'
Hehadsunkinherarms,andhisfacedroppedonherbreast:asightsotouching,yetsoterribleinthetremendouswrongandsufferingwhichhadgonebeforeit,thatthetwobeholderscoveredtheirfaces.
Whenthequietofthegarrethadbeenlongundisturbed,andhisheavingbreastandshakenformhadlongyieldedtothecalmthatmustfollowallstorms——emblemtohumanity,oftherestandsilenceintowhichthestormcalledLifemusthushatlast——theycameforwardtoraisethefatheranddaughterfromtheground.Hehadgraduallydroppedtothefloor,andlaythereinalethargy,wornout.Shehadnestleddownwithhim,thathisheadmightlieuponherarm;andherhairdroopingoverhimcurtainedhimfromthelight.
`If,withoutdisturbinghim,\'shesaid,raisingherhandtoMr.Lorryashestoopedoverthem,afterrepeatedblowingsofhisnose,`allcouldbearrangedforourleavingParisatonce,sothat,fromtheverydoor,hecouldbetakenaway——\'