It
was observed by the younger nuns that when, by chance or design,
they mentioned his name, she looked up and her lips moved in silent
prayer; but she spoke not of him, save to her aunt and to Heloise.
These two faithful friends alone knew the inexpressible anguish with
which she had heard of Pierre's intended departure for France.
The shock caused by the homicide of the Bourgeois, and the
consequent annihilation of all the hopes of her life in a happy
union with Pierre Philibert, was too much for even her naturally
sound and elastic constitution. Her health gave way irrecoverably.
Her face grew thin and wan without losing any of its spiritual
beauty, as her soul looked through its ever more transparent
covering, which daily grew more and more aetherialized as she faded
away. A hectic flush, like a spot of fire, came and went for a
time, and at last settled permanently upon her cheek. Her eyes,
those glorious orbs, filled with unquenchable love, grew
supernaturally large and brilliant with the flames that fed upon
her vital forces.
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