aubert, whose anxiety for his wife overcame every other consideration, detained the physician in his house.he remembered the feelings and the reflections that had called a momentary gloom upon his mind, on the day when he had last visited the fishing-house, in company with madame st.aubert, and he now admitted a presentiment, that this illness would be a fatal one.but he effectually concealed this from her, and from his daughter, whom he endeavoured to re-animate with hopes that her constant assiduities would not be unavailing.the physician, when asked by st.aubert for his opinion of the disorder, replied, that the event of it depended upon circumstances which he could not ascertain.madame st.aubert seemed to have formed a more decided one; but her eyes only gave hints of this.she frequently fixed them upon her anxious friends with an expression of pity, and of tenderness, as if she anticipated the sorrow that awaited them, and that seemed to say, it was for their sakes only, for their sufferings, that she regretted life.on the seventh day, the disorder was at its crisis.the physician assumed a graver manner, which she observed, and took occasion, when her family had once quitted the chamber, to tell him, that she perceived her death was approaching.'do not attempt to deceive me,'
said she, 'i feel that i cannot long survive.i am prepared for the event, i have long, i hope, been preparing for it.since i have not long to live, do not suffer a mistaken compassion to induce you to flatter my family with false hopes.if you do, their affliction will only be the heavier when it arrives: i will endeavour to teach them resignation by my example.'
the physician was affected; he promised to obey her, and told st.
aubert, somewhat abruptly, that there was nothing to expect.the latter was not philosopher enough to restrain his feelings when he received this information; but a consideration of the increased affliction which the observance of his grief would occasion his wife, enabled him, after some time, to command himself in her presence.