Page:Gide - Strait is the Gate.pdf/191

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189 STRAIT IS THE GATE

received not the promise, God having provided some better thing for us'. ...“ Do you still believe those words?” "Indeed I must." We walked on for a few moments beside each other, without saying anything more. She went on: "Can you imagine it, Jerome? — Some better thing!” And suddenly the tears started from her eyes, as she repeated once more: "'Some better thing!' " We had again reached the small garden door through which she had come out a little before. She turned towards me: “Good-bye! ” said she. “No , don't come any further. Good-bye, my beloved friend . Now ... the better thing ... is going to begin . " One moment she looked at me, at once holding me fast and keeping me at arm's length, her hands on my shoulders, her eyes filled with an unspeakable love.


As soon as the door was shut, as soon as I heard the bolt drawn behind her, I fell against the door, a prey to the extremest despair, and stayed for a long time weeping and sobbing in the night .

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