Volume III Part 44 (2/2)
”Sit down beside me, Esther dear, and allow rievously Tihty healer, and still more your company, will effect a cure which I should in vain seek by appealing to s I shall not feel the et up, dress yourself, and come and spend the day with et your sorrow”
”I feel very weak; for the last three days I have only taken a little broth and chocolate”
At these words her face fell, and she began to weep
After a moment's silence she went to ht to e sum of money, beyond what rief I can be your doctor, and you ought to know that your accepting my treatment would make me happy”
I took her hands and kissed theenerous Esther, it is not money I want, for if I did I would ask you and your father as a friend: what I want, and what no one can give me, is a resolute mind, and determination to act for the best”
”Ask advice of your oracle”
I could not help laughing
”Why do you laugh?” said she, ”if I am not mistaken, the oracle hed, dearest, because I felt inclined to tell you to consult the oracle this ti to do with it, lest the cure be worse than the disease”
”But you need not follow your advice unless you like it”
”No, one is free to act as one thinks fit; but not to follow the advice of the oracle would be a conteence which directs it”
Esther could say no more, and stood silent for several minutes, and then said that if I like she would stay with me for the rest of the day The joy which illumined my countenance was manifest, and I said that if she would stay to dinner I would get up, and no doubt her presence would give me an appetite ”Ah!” said she, ”I will make you the dish you are so fond of” She ordered the sedan-chairs to be sent back, and went torepast, and to procure the chafing-dish and the spirits of wine she required for her own cooking
Esther was an angel, a treasure, who consented to become mine if I would communicate to her a science which did not exist I felt that I was looking forward to spending a happy day; this shewed hted with the idea I got out of bed, and when Esther caave a skip of pleasure ”Now,” said she, ”youyour hair as if you were going to a ball”
”That,” I answered, ”is a funny idea, but as it pleases you it pleasesfor Le Duc, and told him I wanted to haveto a ball ”Choose the dress that suits me best”
”No,” said Esther, ”I will choose ither to rue in it he cahted with her task, called in the assistance of her governess She put on my bed a lace shi+rt, and the suit she foundclose, as if to see whether Le Duc was dressing my hair properly, she said,
”A little broth would do you good; send for a dish, it will give you an appetite for dinner”
I thought her advice dictated by the tenderest care, and I deterreat was the influence of this char Manon, I hated her That gave e, and completed my cure At the present ti Blondel's offer, and that my love for self and not my love for her ounded
I was in my servant's hands, my face turned away towards the fire, so that I could not see Esther, but only divert s, when all at once she presented herself with aMamon's fatal letter in her hand
”A discovered the cause of your sorrow?”
I felt rather taken aback, but looking kindly at her, I said,