Onreturningtothesacristyhehadtornoffhisalb,cope,andstole,hadflungallintothehandsofthestupefiedbeadle,hadmadehisescapethroughtheprivatedoorofthecloister,hadorderedaboatmanoftheTerraintotransporthimtotheleftbankoftheSeine,andhadplungedintothehillystreetsoftheUniversity,notknowingwhitherhewasgoing,encounteringateverystepgroupsofmenandwomenwhowerehurryingjoyouslytowardsthePontSaint–Michel,inthehopeofstillarrivingintimetoseethewitchhungthere,—pale,wild,moretroubled,moreblindandmorefiercethananightbirdletlooseandpursuedbyatroopofchildreninbroaddaylight.
Hewentforward,walking,running,takinganystreetathaphazard,makingnochoice,onlyurgedeveronwardawayfromtheGrève,thehorribleGrève,whichhefeltconfusedly,tobebehindhim.
Hecontinuedhisflightaslongashecouldsee,whenheturnedround,theturretedenclosureoftheUniversity,andtherarehousesofthesuburb;but,when,atlength,ariseofgroundhadcompletelyconcealedfromhimthatodiousParis,whenhecouldbelievehimselftobeahundredleaguesdistantfromit,inthefields,inthedesert,hehalted,anditseemedtohimthathebreathedmorefreely.
Hecastahaggardeyeoverthedouble,tortuouswaywhichfatehadcausedtheirtwodestiniestopursueuptotheirpointofintersection,whereithaddashedthemagainsteachotherwithoutmercy.
Hemeditatedonthefollyofeternalvows,onthevanityofchastity,ofscience,ofreligion,ofvirtue,ontheuselessnessofGod.
Heplungedtohisheart'scontentinevilthoughts,andinproportionashesankdeeper,hefeltaSataniclaughburstforthwithinhim.
Andashethussiftedhissoultothebottom,whenheperceivedhowlargeaspacenaturehadpreparedthereforthepassions,hesneeredstillmorebitterly.
Hestirredupinthedepthsofhisheartallhishatred,allhismalevolence;and,withthecoldglanceofaphysicianwhoexaminesapatient,herecognizedthefactthatthismalevolencewasnothingbutvitiatedlove;thatlove,thatsourceofeveryvirtueinman,turnedtohorriblethingsintheheartofapriest,andthatamanconstitutedlikehimself,inmakinghimselfapriest,madehimselfademon.
Thenhelaughedfrightfully,andsuddenlybecamepaleagain,whenheconsideredthemostsinistersideofhisfatalpassion,ofthatcorrosive,venomousmalignant,implacablelove,whichhadendedonlyinthegibbetforoneofthemandinhellfortheother;condemnationforher,damnationforhim.
Andthenhislaughtercameagain,whenhereflectedthatPhoebuswasalive;thatafterall,thecaptainlived,wasgayandhappy,hadhandsomerdoubletsthanever,andanewmistresswhomhewasconductingtoseetheoldonehanged.
Hissneerredoubleditsbitternesswhenhereflectedthatoutofthelivingbeingswhosedeathhehaddesired,thegypsy,theonlycreaturewhomhedidnothate,wastheonlyonewhohadnotescapedhim.
Hereflectedthatthepeoplealso,theentirepopulace,hadhadbeforetheireyesthewomanwhomhelovedexposedalmostnaked.
Hewrithedhisarmswithagonyashethoughtthatthewomanwhoseform,caughtbyhimaloneinthedarknesswouldhavebeensupremehappiness,hadbeendeliveredupinbroaddaylightatfullnoonday,toawholepeople,cladasforanightofvoluptuousness.
Heweptwithrageashepicturedtohimselfhowmanyimpurelookshadbeengratifiedatthesightofthatbadlyfastenedshift,andthatthisbeautifulgirl,thisvirginlily,thiscupofmodestyanddelight,towhichhewouldhavedaredtoplacehislipsonlytrembling,hadjustbeentransformedintoasortofpublicbowl,whereatthevilestpopulaceofParis,thieves,beggars,lackeys,hadcometoquaffincommonanaudacious,impure,anddepravedpleasure.
Andwhenhesoughttopicturetohimselfthehappinesswhichhemighthavefounduponearth,ifshehadnotbeenagypsy,andifhehadnotbeenapriest,ifPhoebushadnotexistedandifshehadlovedhim;whenhepicturedtohimselfthatalifeofserenityandlovewouldhavebeenpossibletohimalso,eventohim;thattherewereatthatverymoment,hereandthereupontheearth,happycouplesspendingthehoursinsweetconversebeneathorangetrees,onthebanksofbrooks,inthepresenceofasettingsun,ofastarrynight;andthatifGodhadsowilled,hemighthaveformedwithheroneofthoseblessedcouples,—hisheartmeltedintendernessanddespair.
Hedidnotregret,hedidnotrepent;allthathehaddonehewasreadytodoagain;hepreferredtobeholdherinthehandsoftheexecutionerratherthaninthearmsofthecaptain.
Buthesuffered;hesufferedsothatatintervalshetoreouthandfulsofhishairtoseewhetheritwerenotturningwhite.
Amongothermomentstherecameone,whenitoccurredtohimthatitwasperhapstheveryminutewhenthehideouschainwhichhehadseenthatmorning,waspressingitsironnoosecloseraboutthatfrailandgracefulneck.
Therewasanothermomentwhen,whilelaughingdiabolicallyathimself,herepresentedtohimselflaEsmeraldaashehadseenheronthatfirstday,lively,careless,joyous,gaylyattired,dancing,winged,harmonious,andlaEsmeraldaofthelastday,inherscantyshift,witharopeaboutherneck,mountingslowlywithherbarefeet,theangularladderofthegallows;hefiguredtohimselfthisdoublepictureinsuchamanner.
Whilethishurricaneofdespairoverturned,broke,toreup,bent,uprootedeverythinginhissoul,hegazedatnaturearoundhim.
Athisfeet,somechickensweresearchingthethicketsandpecking,enamelledbeetlesranaboutinthesun;overhead,somegroupsofdappledgraycloudswerefloatingacrossthebluesky;onthehorizon,thespireoftheAbbeySaint–Victorpiercedtheridgeofthehillwithitsslateobelisk;andthemilleroftheCopeauehillockwaswhistlingashewatchedthelaboriouswingsofhismillturning.
Allthisactive,organized,tranquillife,recurringaroundhimunderathousandforms,hurthim.Heresumedhisflight.
Sometimeshehaltedinthedesertedstreetofavillage,andhisthoughtsweresointolerablethathegraspedhisheadinbothhandsandtriedtotearitfromhisshouldersinordertodashituponthepavement.
Thetempestwhichhadragedwithinhimeversincetheinstantwhenhehadlostthehopeandthewilltosavethegypsy,—thattempesthadnotleftinhisconscienceasinglehealthyidea,asinglethoughtwhichmaintaineditsuprightposition.
Thosetwoimagesunited,presentedtohimafrightfulgroup;andthemoreheconcentratedwhatattentionandthoughtwaslefttohim,themorehebeheldthemgrow,inaccordancewithafantasticprogression,theoneingrace,incharm,inbeauty,inlight,theotherindeformityandhorror;sothatatlastlaEsmeraldaappearedtohimlikeastar,thegibbetlikeanenormous,fleshlessarm.
Oneremarkablefactis,thatduringthewholeofthistorture,theideaofdyingdidnotseriouslyoccurtohim.Thewretchwasmadeso.Heclungtolife.Perhapshereallysawhellbeyondit.
HebelievedhimselftobefarawayfromParis;ontakinghisbearings,heperceivedthathehadonlycircledtheenclosureoftheUniversity.
ThespireofSaint–Sulpice,andthethreeloftyneedlesofSaintGermain–des–Prés,roseabovethehorizononhisright.Heturnedhisstepsinthatdirection.
Whenheheardthebriskchallengeofthemen–at–armsoftheabbey,aroundthecrenelated,circumscribingwallofSaint–Germain,heturnedaside,tookapathwhichpresenteditselfbetweentheabbeyandthelazar–houseofthebourg,andattheexpirationofafewminutesfoundhimselfonthevergeofthePré–aux–Clercs.
Thismeadowwascelebratedbyreasonofthebrawlswhichwentontherenightandday;itwasthehydraofthepoormonksofSaint–Germain:~quodmouachisSancti–Germainipratensishydrafuit,clericisnovasemperdissidiorumcapitasuscitantibus~.
Thearchdeaconwasafraidofmeetingsomeonethere;hefearedeveryhumancountenance;hehadjustavoidedtheUniversityandtheBourgSaint–Germain;hewishedtore–enterthestreetsaslateaspossible.
HeskirtedthePré–aux–Clercs,tookthedesertedpathwhichseparateditfromtheDieu–Neuf,andatlastreachedthewater'sedge.
ThereDomClaudefoundaboatman,who,forafewfarthingsinParisiancoinage,rowedhimuptheSeineasfarasthepointofthecity,andlandedhimonthattongueofabandonedlandwherethereaderhasalreadybeheldGringoiredreaming,andwhichwasprolongedbeyondtheking'sgardens,paralleltotheIleduPasseur–aux–Vaches.
Whentheboatmanhadtakenhisdeparture,heremainedstandingstupidlyonthestrand,staringstraightbeforehimandperceivingobjectsonlythroughmagnifyingoscillationswhichrenderedeverythingasortofphantasmagoriatohim.
Betweenthesetwowhiteexpanses,theleftbankoftheSeine,onwhichhiseyeswerefixed,projecteditsgloomymassand,renderedeverthinnerandthinnerbyperspective,itplungedintothegloomofthehorizonlikeablackspire.
Itwasloadedwithhouses,ofwhichonlytheobscureoutlinecouldbedistinguished,sharplybroughtoutinshadowsagainstthelightbackgroundoftheskyandthewater.
Thatimmenseblackobeliskthusisolatedbetweenthetwowhiteexpansesoftheskyandtheriver,whichwasverybroadatthispoint,produceduponDomClaudeasingulareffect,comparabletothatwhichwouldbeexperiencedbyamanwho,recliningonhisbackatthefootofthetowerofStrasburg,shouldgazeattheenormousspireplungingintotheshadowsofthetwilightabovehishead.
Only,inthiscase,itwasClaudewhowaserectandtheobeliskwhichwaslyingdown;but,astheriver,reflectingthesky,prolongedtheabyssbelowhim,theimmensepromontoryseemedtobeasboldlylaunchedintospaceasanycathedralspire;andtheimpressionwasthesame.
Thisimpressionhadevenonestrongerandmoreprofoundpointaboutit,thatitwasindeedthetowerofStrasbourg,butthetowerofStrasbourgtwoleaguesinheight;somethingunheardof,gigantic,immeasurable;anedificesuchasnohumaneyehaseverseen;atowerofBabel.
Thechimneysofthehouses,thebattlementsofthewalls,thefacetedgablesoftheroofs,thespireoftheAugustines,thetowerofNesle,alltheseprojectionswhichbroketheprofileofthecolossalobeliskaddedtotheillusionbydisplayingineccentricfashiontotheeyetheindentationsofaluxuriantandfantasticsculpture.
Claude,inthestateofhallucinationinwhichhefoundhimself,believedthathesaw,thathesawwithhisactualeyes,thebelltowerofhell;thethousandlightsscatteredoverthewholeheightoftheterribletowerseemedtohimsomanyporchesoftheimmenseinteriorfurnace;thevoicesandnoiseswhichescapedfromitseemedsomanyshrieks,somanydeathgroans.
Thenhebecamealarmed,heputhishandsonhisearsthathemightnolongerhear,turnedhisbackthathemightnolongersee,andfledfromthefrightfulvisionwithhastystrides.
Whenhere–enteredthestreets,thepassers–byelbowingeachotherbythelightoftheshop–fronts,produceduponhimtheeffectofaconstantgoingandcomingofspectresabouthim.
Hesawneitherhouses,norpavements,norchariots,normenandwomen,butachaosofindeterminateobjectswhoseedgesmeltedintoeachother.
AtthecorneroftheRuedelaBarillerie,therewasagrocer'sshopwhoseporchwasgarnishedallabout,accordingtoimmemorialcustom,withhoopsoftinfromwhichhungacircleofwoodencandles,whichcameincontactwitheachotherinthewind,andrattledlikecastanets.
"Oh!"hemuttered,"thenightbreezedashesthemagainsteachother,andminglesthenoiseoftheirchainswiththerattleoftheirbones!Perhapssheisthereamongthem!"
Inthatroom,badlylightedbyameagrelamp,therewasafresh,light–hairedyoungman,withamerryface,whoamidloudburstsoflaughterwasembracingaveryaudaciouslyattiredyounggirl;andnearthelampsatanoldcronespinningandsinginginaquaveringvoice.
Astheyoungmandidnotlaughconstantly,fragmentsoftheoldwoman'sdittyreachedthepriest;itwassomethingunintelligibleyetfrightful,—
"~Grève,aboie,Grève,grouille!File,file,maquenouille,Filesacordeaubourreau,Quisiffledanslepre(au,Grève,aboie,Grève,grouille~!
"~Labellecordedechanvre!Semezd'Issyjusqu'áVanvreDuchanvreetnonpasduble(.Levoleurn'apasvole(Labellecordedechanvre~.
"~Grève,grouille,Grève,aboie!Pourvoirlafilledejoie,Prendreaugibetchassieux,Lesfentressontdesyeux.Grève,grouille,Grève,aboie!"*
*Bark,Grève,grumble,GrèveSpin,spin,mydistaff,spinherropeforthehangman,whoiswhistlinginthemeadow.Whatabeautifulhempenrope!
Thereupontheyoungmanlaughedandcaressedthewench.ThecronewaslaFalourdel;thegirlwasacourtesan;theyoungmanwashisbrotherJehan.
HesawJehangotoawindowattheendoftheroom,openit,castaglanceonthequay,whereinthedistanceblazedathousandlightedcasements,andheheardhimsayasheclosedthesash,—
Isabeau,mydear,IshallnotbesatisfiedwithJupiteruntilhehaschangedyourtwowhitenipplesintotwoblackbottles,whereImaysuckwineofBeaunedayandnight."
DomClaudehadbarelytimetoflinghimselfonthegroundinorderthathemightnotbemet,staredinthefaceandrecognizedbyhisbrother.
"Deaddrunk,"resumedJehan."Come,he'sfull.Aregularleechdetachedfromahogshead.He'sbald,"headded,bendingdown,"'tisanoldman!~Fortunatesenex~!"
Thenthearchdeaconrosetohisfeet,andranwithouthalting,towardsNotre–Dame,whoseenormoustowershebeheldrisingabovethehousesthroughthegloom.
Attheinstantwhenhearrived,panting,onthePlaceduParvis,heshrankbackanddarednotraisehiseyestothefataledifice.
Thecrescentofthemoon,inherflightupwardfromthehorizon,hadpausedatthemoment,onthesummitofthelighthandtower,andseemedtohavepercheditself,likealuminousbird,ontheedgeofthebalustrade,cutoutinblacktrefoils.
Thecloisterdoorwasshut;butthearchdeaconalwayscarriedwithhimthekeyofthetowerinwhichhislaboratorywassituated.Hemadeuseofittoenterthechurch.
Bythedeepshadowswhichfellinbroadsheetsfromalldirections,herecognizedthefactthatthehangingsfortheceremonyofthemorninghadnotyetbeenremoved.
Thegreatsilvercrossshonefromthedepthsofthegloom,powderedwithsomesparklingpoints,likethemilkywayofthatsepulchralnight.
Thelongwindowsofthechoirshowedtheupperextremitiesoftheirarchesabovetheblackdraperies,andtheirpaintedpanes,traversedbyarayofmoonlighthadnolongeranyhuesbutthedoubtfulcolorsofnight,asortofviolet,whiteandblue,whosetintisfoundonlyonthefacesofthedead.
Hestartedtofleeacrossthechurch.Thenitseemedtohimthatthechurchalsowasshaking,moving,becomingenduedwithanimation,thatitwasalive;thateachofthegreatcolumnswasturningintoanenormouspaw,whichwasbeatingtheearthwithitsbigstonespatula,andthatthegiganticcathedralwasnolongeranythingbutasortofprodigiouselephant,whichwasbreathingandmarchingwithitspillarsforfeet,itstwotowersfortrunksandtheimmenseblackclothforitshousings.
ThisfeverormadnesshadreachedsuchadegreeofintensitythattheexternalworldwasnolongeranythingmorefortheunhappymanthanasortofApocalypse,–visible,palpable,terrible.
Foronemoment,hewasrelieved.Asheplungedintothesideaisles,heperceivedareddishlightbehindaclusterofpillars.Herantowardsitastoastar.
Onreadingthesegloomywords,hefeltthatwhichablindmanfeelswhenhefeelshimselfprickedbythestaffwhichhehaspickedup.
Hefeltsomanymonstrousvaporspassanddischargethemselvesinhisbrain,thatitseemedtohimthathisheadhadbecomeoneofthechimneysofhell.
Itwouldappearthatheremainedalongtimeinthisattitude,nolongerthinking,overwhelmedandpassivebeneaththehandofthedemon.
Heslowlyclimbedthestairsofthetowers,filledwithasecretfrightwhichmusthavebeencommunicatedtotherarepassers–byinthePlaceduParvisbythemysteriouslightofhislamp,mountingsolatefromloopholetoloopholeofthebelltower.
Theairwascold;theskywasfilledwithhurryingclouds,whoselarge,whiteflakesdriftedoneuponanotherlikethebreakingupofrivericeafterthewinter.
Thecrescentofthemoon,strandedinthemidstoftheclouds,seemedacelestialvesselcaughtintheice–cakesoftheair.
Heloweredhisgaze,andcontemplatedforamoment,throughtherailingofslendercolumnswhichunitesthetwotowers,faraway,throughagauzeofmistsandsmoke,thesilentthrongoftheroofsofParis,pointed,innumerable,crowdedandsmalllikethewavesofatranquilseaonasum–mernight.
Atthatmomenttheclockraiseditsshrill,crackedvoice.Midnightrangout.Thepriestthoughtofmidday;twelveo'clockhadcomebackagain.
Allatonce,agustofwindextinguishedhislamp,andalmostatthesameinstant,hebeheldashade,awhiteness,aform,awoman,appearfromtheoppositeangleofthetower.Hestarted.
Shewaspale,shewasgloomy.Herhairfelloverhershouldersasinthemorning;buttherewasnolongeraropeonherneck,herhandswerenolongerbound;shewasfree,shewasdead.
Shedidarrive,infact,infrontofthedoortothestairway,andpausedthereforseveralminutes,staredintentlyintothedarkness,butwithoutappearingtoseethepriest,andpassedon.
Whenshehadpassedon,hebegantodescendthestaircaseagain,withtheslownesswhichhehadobservedinthespectre,believinghimselftobeaspectretoo,haggard,withhaironend,hisextinguishedlampstillinhishand;andashedescendedthespiralsteps,hedistinctlyheardinhisearavoicelaughingandrepeating,—
Thesesanctuaries,inthemidstofthedelugeofpenalandbarbarousjurisdictionswhichinundatedthecity,wereaspeciesofislandswhichroseabovethelevelofhumanjustice.
Sometimesawholecitywhichstoodinneedofbeingrepeopledwastemporarilycreatedaplaceofrefuge.LouisXI.madeallParisarefugein1467.
Hisfootoncewithintheasylum,thecriminalwassacred;buthemustbewareofleavingit;onestepoutsidethesanctuary,andhefellbackintotheflood.
Thewheel,thegibbet,thestrappado,keptgoodguardaroundtheplaceofrefuge,andlayinwatchincessantlyfortheirprey,likesharksaroundavessel.
Hence,condemnedmenweretobeseenwhosehairhadgrownwhiteinacloister,onthestepsofapalace,intheenclosureofanabbey,beneaththeporchofachurch;inthismannertheasylumwasaprisonasmuchasanyother.
Itsometimeshappenedthatasolemndecreeofparliamentviolatedtheasylumandrestoredthecondemnedmantotheexecutioner;butthiswasofrareoccurrence.
Parliamentswereafraidofthebishops,andwhentherewasfrictionbetweenthesetworobes,thegownhadbutapoorchanceagainstthecassock.
Sometimes,however,asintheaffairoftheassassinsofPetit–Jean,theheadsmanofParis,andinthatofEmeryRousseau,themurdererofJeanValleret,justiceoverleapedthechurchandpassedontotheexecutionofitssentences;butunlessbyvirtueofadecreeofParliament,woetohimwhoviolatedaplaceofasylumwitharmedforce!
ThereaderknowsthemannerofdeathofRobertdeClermont,MarshalofFrance,andofJeandeChâlons,MarshalofChampagne;andyetthequestionwasonlyofacertainPerrinMarc,theclerkofamoney–changer,amiserableassassin;butthetwomarshalshadbrokenthedoorsofSt.Méry.Thereinlaytheenormity.
Aymoirerelatesthatastag,beingchasedbyDagobert,havingtakenrefugenearthetombofSaint–Denis,thepackofhoundsstoppedshortandbarked.
In1407,NicolasFlamelcausedtobebuiltonthevaultsofSaint–JacquesdelaBoucherie,achamberwhichcosthimfourlivressixsous,sixteenfarthings,parisis.
AtNotre–Dameitwasatinycellsituatedontheroofofthesideaisle,beneaththeflyingbuttresses,preciselyatthespotwherethewifeofthepresentjanitorofthetowershasmadeforherselfagarden,whichistothehanginggardensofBabylonwhatalettuceistoapalm–tree,whataporter'swifeistoaSemiramis.
Aslongasthatcourselasted,theyounggirlhadbeenunabletorecoverhersenses,halfunconscious,halfawake,nolongerfeelinganything,exceptthatshewasmountingthroughtheair,floatinginit,flyinginit,thatsomethingwasraisingherabovetheearth.
Fromtimetotimesheheardtheloudlaughter,thenoisyvoiceofQuasimodoinherear;shehalfopenedhereyes;thenbelowhersheconfusedlybeheldParischeckeredwithitsthousandroofsofslateandtiles,likearedandbluemosaic,aboveherheadthefrightfulandjoyousfaceofQuasimodo.
Thenhereyelidsdroopedagain;shethoughtthatallwasover,thattheyhadexecutedherduringherswoon,andthatthemisshapenspiritwhichhadpresidedoverherdestiny,hadlaidholdofherandwasbearingheraway.
Butwhenthebellringer,dishevelledandpanting,haddepositedherinthecellofrefuge,whenshefelthishugehandsgentlydetachingthecordwhichbruisedherarms,shefeltthatsortofshockwhichawakenswithastartthepassengersofavesselwhichrunsagroundinthemiddleofadarknight.
ShesawthatshewasinNotre–Dame;sherememberedhavingbeentornfromthehandsoftheexecutioner;thatPhoebuswasalive,thatPhoebuslovedhernolonger;andasthesetwoideas,oneofwhichshedsomuchbitternessovertheother,presentedthemselvessimultaneouslytothepoorcondemnedgirl;sheturnedtoQuasimodo,whowasstandinginfrontofher,andwhoterrifiedher;shesaidtohim,—"Whyhaveyousavedme?"
Hegazedatherwithanxiety,asthoughseekingtodivinewhatshewassayingtohim.Sherepeatedherquestion.Thenhegaveheraprofoundlysorrowfulglanceandfled.Shewasastonished.
Afewmomentslaterhereturned,bearingapackagewhichhecastatherfeet.Itwasclothingwhichsomecharitablewomenhadleftonthethresholdofthechurchforher.
Quasimodoappearedtoexperiencesomethingofthismodesty.Hecoveredhiseyeswithhislargehandandretiredoncemore,butslowly.
Shefoundherselfaloneoncemore,meditatinguponthesingularwordsofthisalmostmonstrousbeing,andstruckbythesoundofhisvoice,whichwassohoarseyetsogentle.
Thensheexaminedhercell.Itwasachamberaboutsixfeetsquare,withasmallwindowandadoorontheslightlyslopingplaneoftheroofformedofflatstones.
Manygutterswiththefiguresofanimalsseemedtobebendingdownaroundher,andstretchingtheirnecksinordertostareatherthroughthewindow.
OvertheedgeofherroofsheperceivedthetopsofthousandsofchimneyswhichcausedthesmokeofallthefiresinParistorisebeneathhereyes.
Asadsightforthepoorgypsy,afoundling,condemnedtodeath,anunhappycreature,withoutcountry,withoutfamily,withoutahearthstone.
Atthemomentwhenthethoughtofherisolationthusappearedtohermorepoignantthanever,shefeltabeardedandhairyheadglidebetweenherhands,uponherknees.
Itwasthepoorgoat,theagileDjali,whichhadmadeitsescapeafterher,atthemomentwhenQuasimodohadputtoflightCharmolue'sbrigade,andwhichhadbeenlavishingcaressesonherfeetfornearlyanhourpast,withoutbeingabletowinaglance.Thegypsycoveredhimwithkisses.
Atthesametime,asthoughaninvisiblehandhadliftedtheweightwhichhadrepressedhertearsinherheartforsolong,shebegantoweep,and,inproportionashertearsflowed,shefeltallthatwasmostacridandbitterinhergriefdepartwiththem.
Share this article to
FINISH