emily was at first overwhelmed with the intelligence; then, deluded by the strength of her wishes, a hope sprung up in her mind that her mother would yet recover, and to this she pertinaciously adhered almost to the last hour.
the progress of this disorder was marked, on the side of madame st.
aubert, by patient suffering, and subjected wishes.the composure, with which she awaited her death, could be derived only from the retrospect of a life governed, as far as human frailty permits, by a consciousness of being always in the presence of the deity, and by the hope of a higher world.but her piety could not entirely subdue the grief of parting from those whom she so dearly loved.during these her last hours, she conversed much with st.aubert and emily, on the prospect of futurity, and on other religious topics.the resignation she expressed, with the firm hope of meeting in a future world the friends she left in this, and the effort which sometimes appeared to conceal her sorrow at this temporary separation, frequently affected st.aubert so much as to oblige him to leave the room.having indulged his tears awhile, he would dry them and return to the chamber with a countenance composed by an endeavour which did but increase his grief.
never had emily felt the importance of the lessons, which had taught her to restrain her sensibility, so much as in these moments, and never had she practised them with a triumph so complete.but when the last was over, she sunk at once under the pressure of her sorrow, and then perceived that it was hope, as well as fortitude, which had hitherto supported her.st.aubert was for a time too devoid of comfort himself to bestow any on his daughter.