Couldyoubutseeme，mydearCharlotte，inthewhirlofdissipation，——howmysensesaredriedup，butmyheartisatnotimefull。Ienjoynosinglemomentofhappiness：allisvain——
nothingtouchesme。Istand，asitwere，beforetheraree-show：
Iseethelittlepuppetsmove，andIaskwhetheritisnotanopticalillusion。Iamamusedwiththesepuppets，or，rather，I
ammyselfoneofthem：but，whenIsometimesgraspmyneighbour’shand，Ifeelthatitisnotnatural;andIwithdrawminewithashudder。IntheeveningIsayIwillenjoythenextmorning’ssunrise，andyetIremaininbed：inthedayIpromisetoramblebymoonlight;andI，nevertheless，remainathome。IknownotwhyIrise，norwhyIgotosleep。
Theleavenwhichanimatedmyexistenceisgone：thecharmwhichcheeredmeinthegloomofnight，andarousedmefrommymorningslumbers，isforeverfled。