Madam de Chartres still grew worse and worse, so that they began to

despair of her life; she heard what the physicians told her concerning

the danger she was in with a courage worthy her virtue, and her piety.

After they were gone, she caused everybody to retire, and sent for

Madam de Cleves.

"We must part, my dear daughter," said she, stretching out her hand to

her; "the danger I leave you in, and the occasion you have for me, adds

to the regret I have to leave you: you have a passion for the Duke de

Nemours; I do not desire you to confess it; I am no longer in a

condition to make use of that sincerity for your good; I have perceived

this inclination a great while, but was not willing to speak to you of

it at first, for fear of making you discover it yourself; you know it

at present but too well; you are upon the brink of a precipice; great

efforts must be used, and you must do great violence to your heart to

save yourself: reflect what you owe to your husband; reflect what you

owe to yourself, and think that you are going to lose that reputation

which you have gained, and which I have so much at heart; call up, my

dear daughter, all your courage and constancy; retire from Court;

oblige your husband to carry you away; do not be afraid of taking such

resolutions, as being too harsh and difficult; however frightful they

may appear at first, they will become more pleasant in time, than the

misfortunes that follow gallantry: if any other motives than those of

duty and virtue could have weight with you, I should tell you that if

anything were capable of disturbing the happiness I hope for in the

next world, it would be to see you fall like other women; but if this

calamity must necessarily happen, I shall meet death with joy, as it

will hinder me from being a witness of it."

Madam de Cleves bathed with tears her mother's hand, which she held

fast locked in her own; nor was Madam de Chartres less moved. "Adieu,

dear daughter," said she, "let us put an end to a conversation which

melts us both; and remember, if you are able, all that I have been

saying to you." When she had spoke this, she turned herself on the other side, and

ordered her daughter to call her women, being unwilling either to hear

her reply, or to speak any more. Madam de Cleves went out of her

presence in a condition one need not describe; and Madam de Chartres

thought of nothing but preparing herself for death: she lived two days

longer, during which she would not see her daughter again; her daughter

was the only thing she had reluctance to part with.




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