Her Royal Lover: A Novel — page 352: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

344 HER ROYAL LOVER. erness, who had replaced their nurses. The branches, gently agitated by a light breeze, seemed more than ever to evoke in her mind the remem- brance of a past very near still, but which events so manifold had rendered so distant; each agitated branch, each rustling leaf, had a very distinct voice, which murmured very low in the ear of the poor forsaken creature: “Since thy last hour is going soon to strike wait no. more; bid us an adieu which will be eternal for us who have known and loved thee. See how entire nature is in festal robes for this last evening which she dedicates to thy weeping soul. Do not be un- grateful. Let thy last smile be for us who have comprehended thy sorrows, who have pitied thee, and be without fear, for beyond this world, where thou hast suffered so much, there is eternity, there is repose, there is love.” Then before the almost sightless eyes of the prin- cess a star more brilliant than the rest cleft the firmament in two. With the rapidity of lightning it appeared in the east, and was extinguished in the west. Then some sounds which had nothing of the terrestrial re-echoed in her drowsy head. What was going to become of her? Was sheill or was this death? To die! but, if she was dying there, be- yond the limits of this life, was forgetfulness, was happiness!—but her children! her children whom she was going to leave! | A whole hour has elapsed; a great cry is heard. From whence comes it? Itis the nurse of the poor baby become an orphan who has uttered it. This woman, believing that her mistress had sunk into a sweet sleep, had at first religiously respected that repose; but feeling the cold of the night growing m Gomicbooks. co