Милий друг
Death and a Proposal
Forseveralyearshehadlived,eaten,laughed,loved,andhopedasdideveryone—andnowallwasendedforhimforever.
Lifelastedafewmonthsoryears,andthenfled!Onewasborn,grew,washappy,anddied.Adieu!manorwoman,youwillneverreturntoearth!Hethoughtoftheinsectswhichliveseveralhours,ofthefeastswhichliveseveraldays,ofthemenwholiveseveralyears,oftheworldswhichlastseveralcenturies.Whatwasthedifferencebetweenoneandtheother?Afewmoredawns,thatwasall.
Duroyturnedawayhiseyesinordernottoseethecorpse.Mme.Forestier’sheadwasbowed;herfairhairenhancedthebeautyofhersorrowfulface.Theyoungman’sheartgrewhopeful.Whyshouldhelamentwhenhehadsomanyyearsstillbeforehim?Heglancedatthehandsomewidow.Howhadsheeverconsentedtomarrythatman?Thenhepondereduponallthehiddensecretsoftheirlives.HerememberedthathehadbeentoldofaCountdeVaudrecwhohaddoweredandgivenherinmarriage.Whatwouldshedonow?Whomwouldshemarry?Hadsheprojects,plans?Hewouldhavelikedtoknow.Whythatanxietyastowhatshewoulddo?
Georgesquestionedhimself,andfoundthatitwascausedbyadesiretowinherforhimself.Whyshouldhenotsucceed?Hewaspositivethatshelikedhim;shewouldhaveconfidenceinhim,forsheknewthathewasintelligent,resolute,tenacious.Hadshenotsentforhim?Wasnotthatakindofavowal?Hewasimpatienttoquestionher,tofindoutherintentions.
